In this research Westech Research and Development Corporation will be using optical techniques to measure the plastic strain in metallurgical samples of varying composition (brass, steel, aluminum). This type of technique has several unique advantages. Since light beams are not affected by hostile environments, it is possible to make measurements under conditions of high temperatures or high radiation levels. These conditions would affect conventional strain gauges. Furthermore, measurements may be made remotely by "computer vision" techniques. This has the advantage of speed, accuracy, thoroughness of inspection, and safety for personnel.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: Commercial applications seem promising and diverse. They range from automated computer vision inspection of manufactured parts to early warning failure prediction.
