Experiments play a vital role in unfolding the underlying mechanics of any physical phenomena. Experimental research demands a lot of attention to details, including proper design of the experiment, thorough understanding of the technique and its artifacts, making the right kind of inferences and drawing the correct conclusions. Recently, there have been considerable advances in the area of full-field experimental techniques that allows one to visualize in real time the relevant mechanical field quantities over the domain of interest.

This course aims at exposing the participants to the latest experimental techniques used for studying a variety of problems related to the behavior of fluids and solids at different length and time scales. The focus will be on full field techniques which provide quantitative information on field quantities displacement, strain, velocity, temperature etc., rather than localized measurements.

Other than this dissemination of knowledge, the course also aims to highlight the importance and excitement of experimental research by providing the participants glimpses of recent achievements in this area at IITK Kanpur. There will be practical sessions in which the participants will be shown demonstration experiments as well as allowing them to perform some experiments.