Research Article
Jun 1964
Optical Tooling for Precise Structural Measurements
Authors: Gerald C. Ward, F.ASCE, and John F. Ely, M.ASCEAuthor Affiliations
Publication: Journal of the Structural Division
Volume 90, Issue 3
Abstract
An experimental application of optical tooling to a structural engineering problem was made in the Truss Bridge Research Project at Northwestern University. The methods and equipment used to measure translations and rotations at joints and members of a 100-ft half-scale steel bridge are described. In view of the precision required in these measurements, an optical instrumentation system was used, capable of measuring translations to 0.001 in. and rotations to 0.00005 radians with respect to three coordinate axes. The instruments and techniques of optical tooling are described briefly, as well as the manner in which they were organized for this study. The instruments and techniques used are standard; the targeting of the structure is unique, and the success of this portion of the investigation depended on it. Also unique are the mathematical analysis of the instrumental data and the method given for computing the rotations and translations of a typical point on the structure. Both the instrumental application and the mathematical treatment are general in nature, and they have a wide range of application to problems of measurement of small changes in space structures.
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Information
Published In
Journal of the Structural Division
Volume 90 • Issue 3 • June 1964
Pages: 179 - 200
Copyright
© 1964 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Jun 1964
Published online: Feb 1, 2021
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Authors
Affiliations
Gerald C. Ward, F.ASCE
Lecturer in Civ. Engrg., Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Ill., Col. United States Air Force (retired)
John F. Ely, M.ASCE
Asst. Prof. of Civ. Engrg. and Engrg. Mech., North Carolina State of the Univ. of North Carolina, Raleigh, N. C.; formerly, Asst. Prof. Civ. Engrg. Dept., Northwestern Univ., Evanston, Ill.
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ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.