Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of determining characteristics of reflective surfaces and transparent materials are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of determining characteristics of transparent materials includes using a camera to capture light from a target structure with light regions and dark regions. Before the light is captured by the camera, it passes through a transparent specimen, reflects off of a reflective surface, and passes through the transparent specimen a second time. Deformations in the transparent specimen caused by, e.g., static or dynamic stresses deflect the light passing through it. The amount of the deflection can be used to determine the stresses in the specimen.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of determining characteristics of reflective surfaces and transparent materials are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of determining characteristics of transparent materials includes using a camera to capture light from a target structure with light regions and dark regions. Before the light is captured by the camera, it passes through a transparent specimen, reflects off of a reflective surface, and passes through the transparent specimen a second time. Deformations in the transparent specimen caused by, e.g., static or dynamic stresses deflect the light passing through it. The amount of the deflection can be used to determine the stresses in the specimen.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces includes sensing electromagnetic waves with a sensor, where the electromagnetic waves have been reflected off a reflective surface of a specimen from a target structure including a feature point. The method further includes determining a displacement of the feature point of the target structure indicated by the sensed electromagnetic waves relative to reference data indicating a reference location for the feature point and determining a surface slope of a point of the reflective surface based on the determined displacement of the feature point of the target structure.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces includes sensing electromagnetic waves with a sensor, where the electromagnetic waves have been reflected off a reflective surface of a specimen from a target structure including a feature point. The method further includes determining a displacement of the feature point of the target structure indicated by the sensed electromagnetic waves relative to reference data indicating a reference location for the feature point and determining a surface slope of a point of the reflective surface based on the determined displacement of the feature point of the target structure.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces includes sensing electromagnetic waves with a sensor, where the electromagnetic waves have been reflected off a reflective surface of a specimen from a target structure including a feature point. The method further includes determining a displacement of the feature point of the target structure indicated by the sensed electromagnetic waves relative to reference data indicating a reference location for the feature point and determining a surface slope of a point of the reflective surface based on the determined displacement of the feature point of the target structure.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method of determining geometric characteristics of reflective surfaces includes sensing electromagnetic waves with a sensor, where the electromagnetic waves have been reflected off a reflective surface of a specimen from a target structure including a feature point. The method further includes determining a displacement of the feature point of the target structure indicated by the sensed electromagnetic waves relative to reference data indicating a reference location for the feature point and determining a surface slope of a point of the reflective surface based on the determined displacement of the feature point of the target structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the composition for and methods of processing composite structural foam. In one embodiment, a method of producing a Interpenetrating Phase Composite (IPC) foam is disclosed. In this method, uncured epoxy-based syntactic foam is prepared and infiltrated into an open-cell scaffold. In some embodiments, the uncured epoxy-based syntactic foam contains premixed micron-size hollow glass microballoons. In other embodiments, the scaffold is coated with a silane. The uncured epoxy-based syntactic foam is subsequently cured to produce the Interpenetrating Phase Composite (IPC) foam.