Comparison of experimental and numerical analysis response in the case of deflection sensor

Abstract

In this study, the data from a sensor for generating and measuring a plate's surface deflection was compared against the data from simulations with the finite element method. The sensor deformed the plate by using a vacuum pressure. The deflection was measured by utilizing photometric stereo techniques with data from an RGB-camera. A finite element model consisting of the relevant parts of the sensor and a volume element model of the plate under a load equivalent to the vacuum pressure of the sensor was used. The material constants of the real plate were approximated by using digital image correlation and applied to the finite element model. The measured deflections and their numerical partial derivatives were compared to their simulated counterparts. The sensitivity of the sensor between multiple images was studied against small changes in simulated deflections when the material constants were varied.