Experimental exploration to thermal infrared imaging for detecting the transient process of solid impact

Abstract

Based on the analysis and the comparison of stress pattern analysis by thermal emission (SPATE) and remote sensing rock mechanics (RSRM), the idea to detect the transient process of solid impact with thermal infrared (TIR) imaging technology is introduced. By means of TVS-8100MKII TIR imaging system, which has high recording speed, high space distinguishability and high temperature sensibility, TIR imaging experiments on free falling steel ball impacting on marble, granite, concrete, steel, organic-glass and wood plate are conducted. It was discovered that: (i) the target’s TIR temperature increases remarkably after impact; when (ii) if ball’s size is not changed, the variation amplitude of target’s TIR temperature proportionally increases with the ball’s potential energy or falling height; (iii) the variation amplitude of target’s TIR temperature is involved with the material type and the surface glabrous condition of the target, and the amplitudes are in order as concrete, unpolished marble, steel plate, wood plate, polished granite, polished marble and organic-glass plate; and (iv) the TIR radiation of fragile targets decreases gradually after impact, while there is delayed TIR radiation strengthening for plastic target. It is deduced that once the relational functions and technical parameters, which are involved with certain impact body and target material, are set up through experimental study, the remote detection and back analysis based on TIR imaging for the transient process of solid impact will be no problem. Besides, there is also important scientific meaning for the omen mechanics study and satellite TIR detection and prediction for structural earthquake.