Welcome at the website of the OPTIMESS Scientific Research Network

OPTIMESS is a Scientific Research Networks in applied sciences, funded by the Fund for Scientific Research (Flanders), for the period 2004-2008.

Network goals:

During the last decades, the design of structures and systems has undergone an evolution to miniaturization and usage of lightweight materials. This is the case for mechanical structures (e.g. aircraft components), civil structures (e.g. composite and textile constructions), biomedical structures (e.g. lightweight implants) and for electronic systems (e.g. micro- and nano- electromechanical systems).

At the same time more stringent requirements are imposed onthe strength and the durability of these structures and systems. In order to be able to fulfill these needs it is very important that the static and dynamic properties of the structures and systems are known with a high reliability and spatial resolution. The classical measurement techniques for measuring (static and dynamic) displacements and strains clearly fail in this purpose. As an attractive alternative, optical measurement techniques can be used. Besides the fact that they give a high amount of spatial information, they also allow measurements to be taken in invasive environments.

Recently there has been an important increase in the research on optical measurement techniques, both in Flanders and internationally. One of the major limitations of the development of the research potential in Flanders is the fact that the research activities concerning optical measurement techniques are scattered in many different research groups. Since these groups also cover different application areas (material science, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biomedical science and electronics) communication is not trivial. However, the past has shown that collaboration between different application groups can result in a breakthrough in optical measurement methods. Indeed, due to the development of the so-called Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques in fluid mechanics, image correlation techniques for strain fields have emerged rapidly thereafter as the structural counterparts.

The aim of the network is to improve communication on scientific developments on optical measurement techniques for the characterization of the static and dynamic behavior of structures and systems. At the same time the scientific research group hopes to consolidate and expand its international contacts.

In particular, the following scientific goals are targeted by the FWO (Fund for Scientific Research Flanders) research community:

- The extension of optical measurement techniques that have been developed and/or validated by one of the partners to other members of the community (i.e. other application areas)

- The optimization of existing measurement techniques by using results of parallel developments within other groups.

- Delivering complementary expertise in the individual labs with respect to the different aspects of the measurement problem (design of the measurement set up, signal processing of measurement results and application and validation in the different areas)

A number of optical measurement techniques will be investigated (list is not exhaustive):

- Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI)

- Image Correlation Techniques

- Moiré Techniques

- Laser Doppler Vibrometry

- Photo-elasticity

Information about recent developments on optical measurement techniques on an international level will be monitored and exchanged by the different members of the research community. Therefore cooperation between external research groups will be stimulated.

The above goals will be realized by setting up a permanent cooperation between the participating research groups, which extends the currently existing temporary cooperation between some of the groups.