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

Based on the analysis and the comparison of stress pattern analysis by ther mal emission (SPATE) and remote sensing rock mechanics (RSRM), the idea to detect the transient process of solid impact with thermal infrared (TIR) im aging technology is introduced. By means of TVS-8100MKII TIR imaging system , which has high recording speed, high space distinguishability and high te mperature sensibility, TIR imaging experiments on free falling steel ball i mpacting on marble, granite, concrete, steel, organic-glass and wood plate are conducted. It was discovered that: (i) the target's TIR temperature inc reases remarkably after impact; (ii) when ball's size is not changed, the v ariation amplitude of target's TIR temperature proportionally increases wit h the ball's potential energy or falling height; (iii) the variation amplit ude 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 a s concrete, unpolished marble, steel plate, wood plate, polished granite, p olished marble and organic-glass plate; and (iv) the TIR radiation of fragi le targets decreases gradually after impact, while there is delayed TIR rad iation strengthening for plastic target. It is deduced that once the relati onal functions and technical parameters, which are involved with certain im pact body and target material, are set up through experimental study, the r emote detection and back analysis based on TIR imaging for the transient pr ocess 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.