The Use of Particle Image Velocimetry for Displacement Measurements in Steel Columns Subjected to Buckling

Abstract

Displacements in structural columns have many challenges regarding to monitoring since it is a complex phenomenon. The monitoring of steel column subjected to buckling is one challenge in order to identify its structural behavior based on displacement measurements. In some cases, this effect is studied under steel rectangular column subjected to axial compressive loads. It is necessary in order to quantify the horizontal column deformation by using optical techniques based on displacements from images to evaluate its structural behavior. This paper is aimed to apply the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique as a robust and cheap optical method on buckling study of columns as a contactless measurement technique compared to Finite Element Method (FEM). Experiments using rectangular bar samples were used to evaluate the behavior of columns under axial compressive load causing the buckling effect. In order to quantify displacements, PIV technique was applied based on pre-defined positions of the points in the images and the column displacements were measured and compared to FEM. Results indicated displacements difference around 1.08% between PIV and FEM, providing that PIV technique can be used to quantify column displacements in a plane when compared to FEM results. This allows PIV applications for any structures monitoring such as building, bridges and silos.