Case study: Use of digital image analysis software to measure non-uniform deformation in cellular aluminum alloys

Instron’s SDA software was successfully used by Harvard to capture and analyze digital images of the irregular foam surface. Displacement vector data from the analysis was used to produce surface deformation maps at various stages of the loading history. These maps provided colorful imagery that displayed the importance of band formation to the global strength and stiffness of the aluminum foam materials. They also provided details of the deformation mechanism for the band evolution and collapse. This research project along with continuing work on aluminum foam materials, is supported by the DARPA/ONR through MURI grant No. N00014-1-96-1028 for Harvard University’s Ultralight Metal Structure project. Details about Instron’s SDA software can be found on their web site, www.instron.com. Details of Harvard’s Ultralight Metal Structures research project can be found at the web site: http://das-www.harvard.edu/users/faculty/anthonyevans/ultralightconference/ultralightstructures.html.