An Integrated Methodology for Full-Field Imaging and Numerical Analysis of Complex Composite Substructures

A “pixel-matching” method is described that is used to compare and combine multi-modal full-field data from experimental and numerical sources, by spatially aligning and interpolating to a common resolution. A wind turbine blade (WTB) substructure is used as a demonstrator that is loaded in three-point bending. Experimental results are captured using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Thermoelastic Stress Analysis (TSA), and numerical predictions are made using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), from which surface data is extracted. The datasets are fused using various metrics and analysed for features that will be used to discern improvements in the experiments and numerical analyses. This method will help to develop high-fidelity substructural testing procedures that will reduce the design and development time and cost of WTBs.