Portable device for the local three-dimensional deformation measurement using a single camera

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to establish and validate a portable device for the local three dimensional deformation measurements using a single camera combined with a triangular prism mirror and two mirrors. The mirrors were utilized to convert a single camera into a stereo image system, which views a test object from two different directions and records the surface images of the test specimen on the two halves of the camera sensor in order to achieve a three-dimensional measurement. The proposed system consists of a single camera and the reflection system was integrated into a portable device to achieve a truly portable, low-cost, local three-dimensional deformation measurement, one-time calibration and easy implementation in situ. The optical design and measurement procedures to obtain the three-dimensional (3D) deformation measurements of the proposed system were described in detail. The efficiency and precision of the proposed system were verified by measuring the displacements of a translated flat plate. As a practical application, the proposed system is used to measure the out-of-plane displacement of an aluminum circular plate with a central load. Moreover, the normal strain measurement of a plastic beam under symmetric four-point bending via an outer loading frame was also presented. The measurement results are in good accordance with the data obtained by strain gauges. The experimental results revealed that the proposed system was practicable and effective for the local three-dimensional deformation measurement. This system well-suited to both laboratory and field condition and will have significant application in the fields of engineering.