Tell them where it hurts

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Florida International University have developed a technique called Scan and Solve to determine points of weakness on objects, a method that is faster, simpler and easier than existing methods. Using 3-D scan data as a starting point, such as the data shown at left for Michelangelo's David, the researchers are able to identify where an object will break due to stresses like the pull of gravity. The picture on the right illustrates the von Mises stress distribution caused by gravitational forces. Credit: Members of the Spatial Automation Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison