Lucideon, the international materials development and commercialization organization, has released a new white paper for the construction sector. The paper entitled ‘The Use of Digital Image Correlation in Masonry Research’ is co-written by Dr Geoff Edgell, director and principal consultant for construction at Lucideon, and Cliff Fudge, technical director at H+H UK Limited. The paper discusses the use of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in recent projects on concrete masonry and was initially presented at the 13th Canadian Masonry Symposium, Nova Scotia, Canada on 06 June 2017.
DIC is an advanced visual analysis technique which provides insights and understanding into the performance, durability and failure analysis of materials and products when interacting with external forces, weights, strains and stresses. Lucideon has recently used the technique on concrete masonry for the first time with some extraordinary results.
Geoff Edgell said:
“We are always looking to push the limits of construction materials, processes and structures. In order to make this happen, we need reliable data that can analyzed so that we can understand how test specimens are performing and being influenced by applied forces or conditions. DIC allows us to capture real time measurements of strains on individual components or complete structures, and to visualize where these are critical. Additionally, this technology allows us to perform non-destructive testing. As the technique is also non-contacting and non-destructive, it enables testing to be carried out without damaging the materials, products or structures.”
Cliff Fudge added:
“This is an exciting new development in the field of masonry and other related materials. We have commissioned the technique with Lucideon a number of occasions and it has enabled us to successfully understand the stresses and strains that take place within materials under load, which hitherto has not been possible. This has led to improvements in design guidance and analysis of structures, giving a greater understanding of how loads are transferred and providing us with information to enable a balance of safety and construction costs. ”
Lucideon offers a wide range of testing and analysis services to the construction industry to optimize processes, improve materials and resolve disputes. Lucideon invests in the latest testing rigs and technologies, and also develops its own where the need is not already met. Lucideon’s investment in DIC technology allows the company to offer advanced analysis, through non-destructive testing, to identify how materials and structures perform under applied stresses and strains. The mobile technology can be used on-site or in Lucideon’s multi-storey structural testing laboratories in the UK and USA.
To download the white paper, please visit www.lucideon.com/construction.
Find out more about Lucideon’s DIC offering at www.lucideon.com/3dstrain.
