Sandro Barone

Towards RGB photoelasticity: Full-field automated photoelasticity in white light

In this paper a new full-field method for the automatic analysis of isochromatic fringes in white light is presented. The method, named RGB photoelasticity, eliminates the typical drawbacks of the classical approach to photoelasticity in white light which requires a subjective analysis of colors and an experienced analyst to acquire and interpret the results.The proposed method makes it possible to determine retardations uniquely in the range of 0–3 fringe orders. For this purpose the isochromatics are acquired by means of a color video camera and the colors are decomposed in the three primary colors (red, green and blue) and compared to those stored in a calibration array in the system. Furthermore, the influence of various spurious effects on the accuracy of the proposed method is experimentally evaluated.

Computer aided photoelasticity by an optimum phase stepping method

In this paper an automated photoelastic method based on the phase stepping technique is described. It provides full-field maps of the isoclinic parameter and the relative retardation. The technique is based on processing six images of a photoelastic specimen acquired using plane and circularly polarized light. The number of acquisitions and the type of polariscope used in this approach have been chosen with the aim at reducing the influence of quarter wave plate errors and obtaining raw photoelastic data in a periodic form suitable for easy applications of automatic unwrapping routines.

Evaluation of the Effect of Misalignment and Profile Modification in Face Gear Drive by a Finite Element Meshing Simulation

Face gear drives have many advantages over other cross axis transmissions especially in high performance applications. The lack of published design experience and design standards make their design difficult. This is mainly due to the complex geometries and to the lack of practical experience. For these reasons face gears have not been used for long. This work is aimed at investigating the behavior of a face gear transmission considering contact path under load, load sharing and stresses, for an unmodified gear set including shaft misalignment and modification on pinion profile. The investigation is carried out by integrating a 3D CAD system and a FEA code, and by simulating the meshing of pinion and gear sectors with three teeth, using contact elements and an automated contact algorithm. The procedures followed to create the 3D models of teeth in mesh are described and finite element analysis results discussed showing the differences between unmodified, modified and misaligned teeth. Results show the influence of load on theoretically calculated contact paths, contact areas, arc of action and load sharing. The differences with respect to the ideal case are sometimes remarkable. Further developments are discussed.

Integration of 3D anatomical data obtained by CT imaging and 3D optical scanning for computer aided implant surgery

BackgroundA precise placement of dental implants is a crucial step to optimize both prosthetic aspects and functional constraints. In this context, the use of virtual guiding systems has been recognized as a fundamental tool to control the ideal implant position. In particular, complex periodontal surgeries can be performed using preoperative planning based on CT data. The critical point of the procedure relies on the lack of accuracy in transferring CT planning information to surgical field through custom-made stereo-lithographic surgical guides.MethodsIn this work, a novel methodology is proposed for monitoring loss of accuracy in transferring CT dental information into periodontal surgical field. The methodology is based on integrating 3D data of anatomical (impression and cast) and preoperative (radiographic template) models, obtained by both CT and optical scanning processes.ResultsA clinical case, relative to a fully edentulous jaw patient, has been used as test case to assess the accuracy of the various steps concurring in manufacturing surgical guides. In particular, a surgical guide has been designed to place implants in the bone structure of the patient. The analysis of the results has allowed the clinician to monitor all the errors, which have been occurring step by step manufacturing the physical templates.ConclusionsThe use of an optical scanner, which has a higher resolution and accuracy than CT scanning, has demonstrated to be a valid support to control the precision of the various physical models adopted and to point out possible error sources. A case study regarding a fully edentulous patient has confirmed the feasibility of the proposed methodology.

Three-dimensional point cloud alignment detecting fiducial markers by structured light stereo imaging

In recent years, various methodologies of shape reconstruction have been proposed with the aim at creating Computer-Aided Design models by digitising physical objects using optical sensors. Generally, the acquisition of 3D geometrical data includes crucial tasks, such as planning scanning strategies and aligning different point clouds by multiple view approaches, which differ for user’s interaction and hardware cost. This paper describes a methodology to automatically measure three-dimensional coordinates of fiducial markers to be used as references to align point clouds obtained by an active stereo vision system based on structured light projection. Intensity-based algorithms and stereo vision principles are combined to detect passive fiducial markers localised in a scene. 3D markers are uniquely recognised on the basis of geometrical similarities. The correlation between fiducial markers and point clouds allows the digital creation of complete object surfaces. The technology has been validated by experimental tests based on nominal benchmarks and reconstructions of target objects with complex shapes.

The influence of the quarter wave plates in automated photoelasticity

During the last decades, several methods have been proposed to automate photoelastic analyses. Some procedures are based on the circularly polarised light by using quarter wave plates. However, quarter wave plates are typically matched for a specific wavelength, and an error is introduced at different wavelengths. The error of quarter wave plates affects the measurement of isochromatic and isoclinic data. In this paper, the influence of the errors of quarter wave plates in some of the most common automated photoelastic methods is reviewed. The errors in the photoelastic data are given and the procedures to reduce, or eliminate, them are also suggested.

Computer-aided modelling of three-dimensional maxillofacial tissues through multi-modal imaging.

Recent developments in digital imaging techniques have allowed a wide spread of three-dimensional methodologies based on capturing anatomical tissues by different approaches, such as cone-beam computed tomography, three-dimensional photography and surface scanning. In oral rehabilitation, an objective method to predict surgical and orthodontic outcomes should be based on anatomical data belonging to soft facial tissue, facial skeleton and dentition (maxillofacial triad). However, none of the available imaging techniques can accurately capture the complete triad. This article presents a multi-modal framework, which allows image fusion of different digital techniques to create a three-dimensional virtual maxillofacial model, which integrates photorealistic face, facial skeleton and dentition. The methodology is based on combining structured light surface scanning and cone-beam computed tomography data processing. The fusion procedure provides multi-modal representations by aligning different tissues on the basis of common anatomical constraints.

3D Reconstruction and Restoration Monitoring of Sculptural Artworks by a Multi-Sensor Framework

Nowadays, optical sensors are used to digitize sculptural artworks by exploiting various contactless technologies. Cultural Heritage applications may concern 3D reconstructions of sculptural shapes distinguished by small details distributed over large surfaces. These applications require robust multi-view procedures based on aligning several high resolution 3D measurements. In this paper, the integration of a 3D structured light scanner and a stereo photogrammetric sensor is proposed with the aim of reliably reconstructing large free form artworks. The structured light scanner provides high resolution range maps captured from different views. The stereo photogrammetric sensor measures the spatial location of each view by tracking a marker frame integral to the optical scanner. This procedure allows the computation of the rotation-translation matrix to transpose the range maps from local view coordinate systems to a unique global reference system defined by the stereo photogrammetric sensor. The artwork reconstructions can be further augmented by referring metadata related to restoration processes. In this paper, a methodology has been developed to map metadata to 3D models by capturing spatial references using a passive stereo-photogrammetric sensor. The multi-sensor framework has been experienced through the 3D reconstruction of a Statue of Hope located at the English Cemetery in Florence. This sculptural artwork has been a severe test due to the non-cooperative environment and the complex shape features distributed over a large surface.

CT segmentation of dental shapes by anatomy‐driven reformation imaging and B‐spline modelling

Dedicated imaging methods are among the most important tools of modern computer-aided medical applications. In the last few years, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has gained popularity in digital dentistry for 3D imaging of jawbones and teeth. However, the anatomy of a maxillofacial region complicates the assessment of tooth geometry and anatomical location when using standard orthogonal views of the CT data set. In particular, a tooth is defined by a sub-region, which cannot be easily separated from surrounding tissues by only considering pixel grey-intensity values. For this reason, an image enhancement is usually necessary in order to properly segment tooth geometries. In this paper, an anatomy-driven methodology to reconstruct individual 3D tooth anatomies by processing CBCT data is presented. The main concept is to generate a small set of multi-planar reformation images along significant views for each target tooth, driven by the individual anatomical geometry of a specific patient. The reformation images greatly enhance the clearness of the target tooth contours. A set of meaningful 2D tooth contours is extracted and used to automatically model the overall 3D tooth shape through a B-spline representation. The effectiveness of the methodology has been verified by comparing some anatomy-driven reconstructions of anterior and premolar teeth with those obtained by using standard tooth segmentation tools. Copyright

A computer-aided design-based system for posture analyses of motorcycles

This paper presents a computer-aided design (CAD)-based system for ergonomics analyses of motorcycles, which includes three-dimensional models of vehicle configurations and equipment, three-dimensional human models of various anthropometries and evaluative techniques to assess reach and postures. The system is based on a modular structure that integrates an established top-down computer-aided design framework for motorcycle design, a widely used anthropometric database and specific behavioural criteria defined by an experimental procedure correlating driving postures and vehicle configurations. As a result, vehicle designers are able to use a single analysis tool to prognosticate and assess postural comfort, from the earliest stages of the design process. In the paper, issues in vehicle design with reference to ergonomics assumptions and posture evaluations by a computerized system are discussed.