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Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Optics and Lasers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 10337

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Luciano Lamberti

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Politecnico of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Interests: structural optimization; optical methods; materials science and characterization; nanosciences and nanotechnology; biomechanics and bioengineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to announce this Special Issue, “Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods”, which will appear in the Applied Sciences journal this year.

The characterization of materials is a basic field in science and engineering. The starting point for fully understanding any phenomenon is knowing how the involved material(s) respond(s) to external inputs. Responses to external stimuli are related to the constitutive model of the material, and different approaches can be used to identify material properties. The design/development of new materials, as well as broadening the field of the use of “well-established” materials, entails the availability of efficient characterization techniques. Optical methods (OMs) fit very well in this context owing to their inherent ability to gather full-field information without altering specimen conditions, very often in real time. OMs essentially measure specimen deformations. The illuminating wave front is modulated by the object and directed to a sensor. The superposition of the modulated and reference waves provides a fringe pattern encoding displacement information, which is then related to the material’s properties. Other forms of light–matter interaction can be used to identify thermophysical, optical or magnetic properties.

The term “optical methods” actually indicates a wide variety of techniques ranging from using visible light to electronic imaging in their operation. This Special Issue will focus on the advances in the characterization of materials with optical methods. The aim is to provide a forum on the state-of-the-art and frontier applications of OMs to material characterization. Submissions should be in the form of original research articles or authoritative review papers on the following topics (yet not limited to these):

Visible light methods (moiré, speckle, and holography);
Image correlation methods;
Microscopy (SEM, TEM, fluorescence, etc.);
Inverse and hybrid methods;
Mechanical characterization (static and dynamic);
Thermophysical characterization;
Electromagnetic characterization;
Metrology and nanometrology (including surface and inner structure characterization).

Dr. Luciano Lamberti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Characterization of materials
Optical methods
Hybrid and inverse methods
Metrology

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 178 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods

by Luciano Lamberti

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7958; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137958 - 07 Jul 2023

Viewed by 665

Abstract

Materials characterization is a basic field of science and engineering [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

44 pages, 8682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Characterization of Soft Membranes with One-Shot Projection Moiré and Metaheuristic Optimization

by Antonio Boccaccio, Luciano Lamberti, Lorenzo Santoro and Bartolomeo Trentadue

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7758; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137758 - 30 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 825

Abstract

Mechanical characterization of soft materials is a complicated inverse problem that includes nonlinear constitutive behavior and large deformations. A further complication is introduced by the structural inhomogeneity of tested specimens (for example, caused by thickness variations). Optical methods are very useful in mechanical characterization of soft matter, as they provide accurate full-field information on displacements, strains and stresses regardless of the magnitude and/or gradients of those quantities. In view of this, the present study describes a novel hybrid framework for mechanical characterization of soft membranes, combining (i) inflation tests and preliminary in-plane equi-biaxial tests, (ii) a one-shot projection moiré optical setup with two symmetric projectors that project cross-gratings onto the inflated membrane, (iii) a mathematical model to extract 3D displacement information from moiré measurements, and (iv) metaheuristic optimization hybridizing harmony search and JAYA algorithms. The use of cross-gratings allows us to determine the surface curvature and precisely reconstruct the shape of the deformed object. Enriching metaheuristic optimization with gradient information and elitist strategies significantly reduces the computational cost of the identification process. The feasibility of the proposed approach wassuccessfully tested on a 100 mm diameter natural rubber membrane that had some degree of anisotropy in mechanical response because of its inhomogeneous thickness distribution. Remarkably, up to 324 hyperelastic constants and thickness parameters can be precisely identified by the proposed framework, reducing computational effort from 15% to 70% with respect to other inverse methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

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12 pages, 3555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DIC Measurement of Welding-Induced Deformation on a Train Bogie Moving Bolster Subassembly

by Katia Genovese, Nicola Nortano, Rocco Salvato and Rocco Mozzillo

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3846; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063846 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1104

Abstract

The experimental evaluation of welding-induced distortion is a topic of great interest to both the scientific and industrial communities. With the aim of addressing a specific need in an industrial context, this paper investigates the capabilities of a stereo–Digital Image Correlation (stereo–DIC) system to measure the weld-induced distortion of the front-plate of a bogie train bolster subassembly. Currently, the deviation from planarity of this surface is measured at less than five points using a CMM in the post-weld cooled state. An additional machining process is then used to bring the surface within the tolerance required to join the welded assembly to the train body through a threaded flange. The paper shows that DIC can provide accurate full-field distortion and strain maps over the entire 588 mm × 308 mm surface of the front plate. The distinct strength of DIC over the currently used inspection technique is its ability to provide highly spatially dense data that are unaffected by rigid body motion. This can be advantageous in terms of saving time in the post-weld inspection and reducing errors in the finishing process. In addition, DIC capabilities revealed important information that was not available from the CMM, such as the full-surface map of the initial deviation of the plate from its nominal geometry and its asymmetric deformation after welding. Finally, the full-field nature of the experimental data obtained allows for seamless integration with FE thermo-mechanical simulations for numerical model validation, stress calculation, and optimization of geometry and technological processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

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13 pages, 4818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Properties of Dyes for Painting with Spectroscopy in the Visible and Near Infrared Range

by Jana Žiljak Gršić, Silvio Plehati, Ivana Žiljak Stanimirović and Tomislav Bogović

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2483; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042483 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1542

Abstract

This study focuses on the properties of reflection and absorption of light in the visible and near infrared range of acrylic dyes and related materials for coloring. The research aims to understand the use of acrylic dyes in fine arts and to simulate these dyes for printing purposes. Two groups of acrylic dyes were studied using spectroscopy to determine their light absorption properties in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) regions. The measurements were performed with forensic cameras equipped with 24 light filters in the range of 400–1000 nm. The results of the digital recordings were compared with video surveillance cameras that operate and record during the day and night. The same color had at least two formulations of dyes for print reproduction to simulate what the naked eye sees and to simulate light absorption in the NIR spectrum. The study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the properties of acrylic paints and related materials, considering how they can be used in fine arts and how to simulate them in printing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

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23 pages, 7514 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Novel 3D Topography Stitching Algorithm Based on Reflectance and Multimap

by Julie Lemesle, Robin Guibert and Maxence Bigerelle

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13020857 - 08 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1484

Abstract

Surface topography is an efficient tool for the understanding of physical phenomena, especially if multiscale roughness analysis is performed. However, the observable scale range in a topography measured with 3D optical profilometers is quite limited. Therefore, all scales linked to a physical phenomenon might not be measured, which impedes the correct analysis of the surface. Stitching of 3D topographies, a technique combining elementary topographic maps into a larger one, can be used to increase the scale range for an objective lens. A high resolution over a large field of measurement topography is then generated. A literature review of 3D topography stitching algorithm highlights the stitching procedure, and detailed explanations on in-plane registration algorithms are provided. However, some existing 3D topography stitching algorithms are not sufficiently accurate for the registration of surface, especially at smaller scales. This paper proposes a new reflectance-based multimap 3D stitching algorithm and three of its variants. These algorithm variants are compared to three existing 3D stitching algorithms (geometric, cross-correlation and global optimization of differences) on four test cases, containing measured elementary topographic maps obtained on four surfaces and with four 3D optical profilometers (two focus variation microscopes and two interferometers). Five qualitative and quantitative criteria and indicators are proposed for the comparison of 3D topography stitching algorithms: visual inspection, run time, memory usage, mean repositioning error and stitching error estimator. Lastly, two quantitative indicators and criteria are new indicators proposed in this article. Overall, the new 3D stitching algorithms based on reflectance and multimaps have a lower mean repositioning error and stitching error estimator compared to other existing algorithms. This highlights the relevance of multimap stitching algorithms in the case of 3D topographies. A new decision-helping tool, the stitching gain lift plot (SGL plot), is described for the selection of the best stitching algorithm for a given test case. The SGL plot especially highlights the higher performance of two of the variants of the novel algorithm compared to the three existing 3D stitching algorithms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

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11 pages, 2841 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stray Light Analysis and Elimination of an Optical System Based on the Structural Optimization Design of an Airborne Camera

by Jinliang Li, Yang Yang, Xiaohai Qu and Chenpin Jiang

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041935 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2362

Abstract

An aspherical airborne camera has excellent performance in the field of photoelectric reconnaissance equipment. However, the image plane contrast of the optical system will be reduced by stray light originating from inside or outside of the optical system. In the present work, the self-designed aspheric airborne camera is manufactured with a baffle and vanes to reduce the impact of stray light on the camera imaging quality. TracePro software is used to analyze the stray light and establish an ABg mathematical model based on the scattering intensity measurement. The incident angle of the light parallel to the optical axis is set, and ray tracing is performed on the optical machine model to verify whether it conforms to the optical system design. The results showed that when the incident angle of the light source is greater than 0.5°, the point source transmittance (PST) value drops rapidly, and when the incident angle is 30°, the PST value of the system is in the order of 10⁻⁸. Stray light analysis verifies that the self-designed aspheric surface-based camera optomechanical structure has the ability to suppress stray light. The design of the baffle and vanes further enhances the ability of the optical system to suppress stray light, which can provide a reference for the design of a stray light elimination structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

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15 pages, 5369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermo-Optical Characterization of Cu- and Zr-Modified TiO₂ Photocatalysts by Beam Deflection Spectrometry

by Mahmoud Abdelhamid, Dorota Korte, Humberto Cabrera, Olena Pliekhova, Zeinab Ebrahimpour, Urška Lavrenčič Štangar and Mladen Franko

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10937; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210937 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

Cu/Zr-modified TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared in the form of nanopowders and characterized by photothermal spectrometry, UV–Vis spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to investigate the effect of Cu/Zr content on their thermo-optical and transport properties. Adding Cu (0.05%) caused a change in the light absorption range limit, which reduced from 3.25 eV for pure TiO₂ to 2.85 eV for Cu-modified TiO₂. The decrease in energy band gap was accompanied by a 19.5% decrease in the charge carrier lifetime, which is not favorable for photocatalysis. The decrease in charge carrier lifetime can be minimized by additional modification of TiO₂ with Zr (1%), which showed insignificant effects on the energy band gap of the investigated materials. Furthermore, modification of TiO₂ with Zr affected the material’s structure and increased its specific surface area, which improved the adsorption of degraded compounds as well as the absorption of light. Altogether, these effects resulted in higher photocatalytic degradation rate constants of the investigated TiO₂-based photocatalyst. It was also found that modification of TiO₂ with Cu and/or Zr increases both the material’s thermal diffusivity and conductivity due to changes in the band gap and structure of material. Beam deflection spectrometry (BDS) has demonstrated high potential in materials’ characterization which stems from its high sensitivity and precision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Characterization of Materials with Optical Methods)

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