Video-based Methods for Measurement of Vibration Mode Shapes

Non-contact measurement methods for vibrations and displacements of aerospace structures are convenient because of their ease of setup and ability to measure hard-to-access regions. They typically only require line of sight such as when a video camera or laser instrument is aimed at the desired locations of measurement. Standard methods for testing of aerospace structures which involve the use of strain gauges or accelerometers need to be physically attached when access may present issues in large structures, dense instrumentation can be costly, and the logistics of running wiring can be complicated. By contrast, the resolution and processing of measurements from standard sensors is simpler, while non-contact methods may have more complicated data processing or resolution limitations.