Improving Structural Test and Analysis Correlation Using Digital Image Correlation Boundary Measurements

Simplified idealizations, such as clamped or simply supported, are commonly used in the modeling and analysis of tested aerospace structures. These simplifications are not always appropriate to address the response of nonrigid boundaries. Model modifications can better represent the test, but modifications are often not practical due to the complexities of the boundary response. Therefore, digital image correlation (DIC) and conventional instrumentation were incorporated to measure the boundary support structure response of a large-scale wing test. The additional DIC and conventional data were used to adjust the test data to remove the effects of the boundary response to improve the test and analysis correlation of a model with the idealized boundary conditions. The studied wing test had three sources of boundary flexibility identified as contributing to rigid-body rotation of the test wing. The adjusted data exhibit improved test and analysis correlation and demonstrates the benefit of using DIC along with conventional instrumentation to collect and interpret test data.