A shape sensing methodology for beams with generic cross-sections: Application to airfoil beams

This work presents a shape sensing method capable of handling some geometrical complexities commonly observed in aerospace structures. The method presented is based on the one-dimensional inverse Finite Element Method (1D-iFEM), which is capable of accurately reconstructing structural displacements of beam structures using surface strain measurements. The effects of cross-sectional variation in shear strains due to transverse or torsional loads for any general beam profile is accounted for in this 1D-iFEM formulation. The introduction of these effects allows the use of iFEM for the shape sensing of solid or thin-walled prismatic beams with any general beam profile. The performance of the new method is demonstrated through some example problems of prismatic beams under various static loading scenarios. (C) 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The method proposed in this work utilizes the one-dimensional inverse Finite Element Method to accurately sense the shape of aerospace structures, while accounting for the effects of transverse or torsional loads on cross-sectional variations.