Speckles for Safety: NIST Helps Measure Stress in Bridges

The video discusses the work of Mark, a material scientist at NIST, who uses paint movement to improve bridge safety. It highlights the 2007 Minneapolis bridge collapse caused by a gusset plate flaw, leading to a study on gusset plate performance under stress. The FHWA uses hydraulic jacks and multiple systems to test these plates, while NIST employs Digital Image Correlation to measure strain. The goal is to improve national bridge design and inspection guidelines to prevent future tragedies.

What is the ultimate goal of the research being conducted on gusset plates?

What technique did NIST introduce to help measure the performance of gusset plates under stress?