Structural Diagnostic and Thermal Methods for Experimental Mechanics

The Lab carry on research activities mainly on the following topics:

1. Structural Diagnostic: traditional applications, new applications and development of new non destructive techniques (Thermal methods –IRT;

Ultrasound – UT; magnetic particles – MT; Penetrant – PT; Strain Gauges – SG; Eddy Current - EC; Xrays – only interpretation)

2. Rapid characterization of fatigue behavior of materials/components with InfraRed techniques

3. Monitoring of manufacturing (Automated Fiber Placement and technological processes (Friction Stir Welding) and analysis of the process for mechanical behavior of components

4. Coatings analysis: thickness evaluation, quality of adhesion, non destructive evaluation, tribological characterization (in cooperation with tribolab)

5. Stress analysis with Thermoelastic Stress Analysis (TSA)

6. Damage monitoring (Acoustic Emission; Thermography, TSA etc)

7.  Fracture Mechanics

 

The lab is equipped with all needed and up to date instruments for non destructive testing (3 UT systems with possibility of c-scan, MT,  PT, 5 Thermocameras in all possible ranges and performances,  Eddy current system with single and differential probes, Strain gauges, hole drilling rosette for residual stresses, etc)

In particular the possibility to use 100kN MTS Hydraulic loading machine with thermal cameras allows the fast analysis of fatigue behavior of various materials (tested for aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, traditional and innovative steels, composites) with fatigue limit evaluation in about 3 days instead of 6-8 weeks need for standard testing. Research carried out in the lab showed the possibility to obtain the entire fatigue curve. Research also focuses on the study of Fracture Mechanics behavior of materials in order to localize the crack tip position and to assess the crack propagation law.

The strong point of the adopted approach is the applicability on operating real and complex shaped components (i.e. FSW welded joints).

The research group was awarded of:

a. AEA Technology award during 1998 International Conference of Experimental Mechanics

b. Innovation Award of ALENIA AERMACCHI 2014 for development of thermographic innovative technique for resin pocket characterization

c. Innovation Award of FINMECCANICA 2014 for development of a system for quantitative measurements of resin pockets.

d. AIAS award 2015 for best paper presented in 2014 conference of Italian Association for Stress Analysis

e. Best Student Paper at 2017 SPIE Conference “Thermosense”

The vision of the lab is that all engineering lab activities has to be properly used in the territory. The effort is to consider always in the development of new application or new technologies the possibility for a proper implementation of the results of the research in production line or product development.  The lab cooperates strictly with the spinoff company DES - Diagnostic Engineering Solutions. All activities carried out in the lab are and can be industrialized and customized in proper in line control.

The scientific coordinator registered 4 patents: 2 European related to new instruments for Non Destructive Testing based on thermography and 2 national patent (one for thermography application and one for monitoring blood

pressure with a wearable device).

The lab is involved actively in a number of industrial and research projects PON, regional, private.