Showing papers by "K. Ramesh published in 2010"

Adaptive Quality Guided Phase Unwrapping Algorithm for Whole-Field Digital Photoelastic Parameter Estimation of Complex Models

Abstract: With advancements in digital image processing and data acquisition, a separate branch of photoelasticity namely digital photoelasticity came into existence. Here, intensity information of the acquired image is used for the evaluation of whole-field photoelastic parameters. Digital photoelasticity provides only wrapped phasemaps of isoclinics and isochromatics and they have to be unwrapped in different ways for getting the continuous-phase values. In the case of the isochromatic phasemap, ambiguity removal prior to unwrapping is essential. In this paper, a 10-step phase-shifting methodology is proposed and a new strategy for obtaining the isochromatic phasemap free of ambiguity is demonstrated. Isoclinic unwrapping is performed by a new adaptive quality guided algorithm. Adaptive in the sense that isoclinic phase unwrapping is done autonomously even in the presence of isotropic points/π jumps occurring in the isoclinic phasemap. The isochromatic phasemap is also unwrapped using the quality guided path follower. The methodology is validated for the problem of a ring under diametral compression and later shown for three other models which have complex stress fields. Wherever possible, the parameters obtained by the new methodology are compared with analytical or numerical methods and the comparison is quite good.

Analysis of a complex shape chain plate using Transmission Photoelasticity

Abstract: Most chains are an assembly [1] of five parts namely, outer plate, inner plate, bush, pin and roller. Two inner plates are press fitted with two bushes to form an inner block assembly. The outer plates are press fitted with pins after keeping the pins through the assembled bushes of the inner block. Roller is a rotating member and placed over the bush during inner block assembly. Inner block assembly is the load transfer member from sprocket tooth. The outer block assembly helps in holding and also to pull the inner block over the sprocket teeth. If a chain length is in odd number of pitches, it requires an offset plate as shown in Figure 1 to connect two ends of the chain together to make chain endless. When the chain is assembled with an offset plate, the chain fatigue life was observed only 20 to 25% of the total life of a chain, assembled without an offset plate. The holes in the offset plate are of the same size as in the outer and inner plates respectively and it is a complex in shape chain plate. A inbuilt thinning zone at the centre of the chain plate as shown in Figure 1 is unavoidable. The stresses and its distribution in this complex shape chain plate geometry play a critical role in the fatigue life performance of a chain assembly. However, it is difficult identify the stress distribution and stress concentration zones precisely using only the conventional industrial friendly tools such as routine quality control test, breaking load test and numerical computations. In this context the transmission photoelastic technique has made it possible to identify the stress distribution, its concentration and also to quantify the stress and strain [2-3] at any point in the chain plate. This paper explains how transmission photoelastic technique is used to estimate the stress distribution and its concentration zones in a complex chain plate when it isloaded.An epoxy chain plate model was made through the casting method using a Perspex mould [2-3]. A loading fixture was used to load the model during stress freezing in the furnace. The integrated fringe pattern of the offset chain plate is shown in Figure 2. Slices are cut in the offset zone to understand the nature of the stress distribution. A Simple photoelastic analysis of this has revealed a wealth of information to take suitable decision on the design of such plates taking into account the constraints in manufacturing.