Abstract

We are surrounded by engineering structures from massive buildings and bridges to tiny implants. An engineering structure must be able to withstand load and repeated application of the load can cause the materials to damage and result in ultimately component failure. Now it is possible with high-speed, high resolution cameras to capture images of structures that can be processed into visualisation of the load distribution in the structure and the associated stresses. By doing this it is possible to assess the structural performance of the structure from the image and hence the remaining service life. The process enables timely repair and maintenance and results in a more sustainable approach to engineering design. In the presentation the techniques employed to obtain the stresses are described in detail along with a range of case studies from aircraft components, to historic tapestries, armour and angioplasty balloons and stents.