Data assimilation of structural deformation using finite element simulations and single-perspective projection data based on the example of X-ray imaging

Gaining insight in the complex deformation processes inside a vehicle during the process of crashing is to date only possible via numerical simulations. To validate these simulations experimentally, high speed, high-energy X-ray imaging is currently developed. So far, X-ray images have only been compared qualitatively to simulations as quantitative analysis proves challenging: Three dimensional (3D) information has to be reconstructed from two dimensional (2D) X-ray images showing overlapping parts which undergo complex deformation. We propose a novel analysis method which adapts ideas from data assimilation to reconstruct three dimensional motion and deformation from two dimensional measurements using high speed X-ray video data and finite element (FE) simulations. Furthermore, we analyze the accuracy of the approach based on an observing system simulation experiment.