Measurement of Impact Loads using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter

Abstract

The design and selection of transducers is an important consideration for the measurement of impact loads. This paper examines a load-measuring transducer based on a non-contact laser Doppler principle. An experimental study assesses the deformations and velocities obtained using a laser Doppler velocimeter and compares the mean and peak loads with those recorded by an accelerometer and a load cell. The paper concludes that this device is a valuable tool in the structural impact research field.