Applications of Digital Image Processing in Testing and Evaluation of Composite Materials

Abstract

This report describes the development and application of digital image processing techniques for analyzing the fracture behavior and environmental deterioration of test specimens prepared from composite laminate materials used in the manufacture of helicopter rotor blades. The digitized images were evaluated using pixel histograms generated through routines developed on a C-interpreter. Laminate fiber orientation and aging conditions were found to have a significant effect on the observed fracture patterns and surface characteristics of the test specimens. Pixel histograms of environmentally aged test specimens were broader and shifted to higher grey level values compared to histograms of the unaged specimens. Under the test procedures developed, digital image analysis results were reproducible and fiber orientation did not significantly affect the average grey level of either aged or unaged specimens. Keywords: Digital image analysis, Materials evaluation, Composites, Helicopter blades, Environmental durability, Vision system, Mechanical testing, Nondestructive testing.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA222939

Entities

People

  • Gary L. Hagnauer
  • James D. Kleinmeyer
  • John H. Grubbs
  • John J. Wixted

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • C Programming Language
  • Composite Materials
  • Digital Image Processing
  • Filtration
  • Helicopter Rotors
  • Image Processing
  • Information Processing
  • Laminates
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Military Research
  • United States
  • United States Military Academy

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Reinforced Composite Materials