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

Abstract

Abstract 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.