Parallel computing in experimental mechanics and optical measurement: A review

Because of the merits of non-destruction, high speed, and high sensitivity, optical techniques have been developed for experimental mechanics and optical measurement. In commercial optical systems, the speed performance becomes more important and real-time systems are pursued. Among many acceleration methods, using parallel computing hardware is proven effective. In this paper, the main principles of parallel computing at an application level are introduced; the hardware platforms that support parallel computing are compared; the applications of parallel computing in experimental mechanics and optical measurement are reviewed. Parallel hardware platforms are seen to be useful for the acceleration of various problems. When the computation is time-consuming or real-time performance is required, hardware acceleration is a possible approach for consideration. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.