3D Digital Image Correlation Measurements Research Articles

Influence of the stress-strain state on the jerky flow effects and kinetics of the strain bands nucleation in Al-Mg alloy (A 95456)

The aim of the work is to develop a technique on the experimental study of inelastic deformation of structural metal materials in various types of stress-strain state. A technique is proposed based on the use of original samples of specialized complicated geometry, in the working zone of which a controlled biaxial stress state is realized, and the use of a contactless 3D digital image correlation measurement system Vic-3D for recording displacement and deformation fields. The authors proposed the use of original samples of variable thickness in the form of plates located inside a rigid circular rim and a rim of reverse curvature. Under uniaxial tension of these samples in the central area of the plate (working part of the sample), the plane stress state is realized with principal stresses of different signs, depending on the shape and rigidity of the rim. In the working part of the plate with a ring-shaped rim, tensile forces in the longitudinal direction and compressive forces in the transverse direction are realized due to the curvature of the circular rim and its narrowing in the transverse direction. In a plate with a rigid rim of reverse curvature, biaxial tension is realized in the working section. High efficiency of the proposed experimental technique has been shown to solve problems in the mechanics of solids, in particular, to study the processes of macroscopic localization of plastic flow in Al-Mg alloys (AlMg6) under the conditions of the Portevin - Le Chatelier effect. Using a video system, experimental data of the realized ratio of the deformation components (longitudinal and transverse deformations) in the working zone of the samples were obtained. The analysis of the kinetics of band formation and discontinuous yield strain occurring under conditions of a plane stress state has been carried out. The use of the Vallen Amsy-6 system made it possible to obtain data on the occurrence of acoustic emission signals accompanying the observed processes of inelastic deformation of the material. The graphs of the dependence of the energy parameter and frequency characteristics of acoustic emission signals on time have been constructed and analyzed.

Effect of deformation of a flat plate specimen under in-plane blasting loading on 2D and 3D digital image correlation measurement.

In combination with high-speed photography, a 3D digital image correlation (DIC) experimental system suitable for an in-plane blasting experiment is established to effectively explore the mechanism of blasting. The dynamic response of the specimen under in-plane blasting loading is analyzed on the basis of the model experiment, and the effect of out-of-plane deformation on the 2D-DIC measurement under a blasting stress wave is studied. First, the out-of-plane displacement and strain evolution law of the specimen under blasting load are studied by using a 3D-DIC system. Second, an analytical model of the effect of out-of-plane curved displacement on 2D-DIC measurement under the blasting load is proposed on the basis of pinhole imaging theory. Finally, the specific error value and error percentage of out-of-plane displacement to the 2D-DIC measurement results are quantitatively analyzed on the basis of the established theoretical method. Results show that the theoretical error of out-of-plane curved displacement to 2D-DIC accounts for 10.8% of the measured vertical strain. In the polycarbonate plate specimen, the effect of out-of-plane displacement caused by the blasting experiment on 2D-DIC measurements cannot be ignored. This novel, to the best of our knowledge, experimental system provides a wealth of experimental data, including in-plane full-field strain evolution and out-of-plane displacement changes.

A Deep Learning Framework for Damage Assessment of Composite Sandwich Structures

The vibrational behavior of composite structures has been demonstrated as a useful feature for identifying debonding damage. The precision of the damage localization can be greatly improved by the addition of more measuring points. Therefore, full-field vibration measurements, such as those obtained using high-speed digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, are particularly useful. In this study, deep learning techniques, which have demonstrated excellent performance in image classification and segmentation, are incorporated into a novel approach for assessing damage in composite structures. This article presents a damage-assessment algorithm for composite sandwich structures that uses full-field vibration mode shapes and deep learning. First, the vibration mode shapes are identified using high-speed 3D DIC measurements. Then, Gaussian process regression is implemented to estimate the mode shape curvatures, and a baseline-free gapped smoothing method is applied to compute the damage images. The damage indices, which are represented as grayscale images, are processed using a convolutional-neural-network-based algorithm to automatically identify damaged regions. The proposed methodology is validated using numerical and experimental data from a composite sandwich panel with different damage configurations.

Research paper: The three-dimensional mechanical response of orthodontic archwires and brackets in vitro during simulated orthodontic torque

Orthodontic archwire rotation around its long axis, known as third-order torque, is utilised to correct tooth rotational misalignments moving the tooth root closer to or away from the cheek through engagement with an orthodontic bracket. Studying the behaviour of archwire and brackets during an applied rotation can aid in better understanding and appreciating the mechanics of third-order torque, potentially allowing for more effective orthodontic treatment protocols. Mechanically characterising archwire behaviour during third-order torque application is a complex task due to their physical scale and geometries. An advanced measurement technique was needed to address these constraints. A three-dimensional (3D) non-contact optical method using a digital image correlation (DIC) system was developed. An orthodontic torque simulator (OTS) was used to apply and measure third-order torque with 0.483 × 0.635 mm (0.019″ x 0.025″) rectangular archwires in tandem with a 3D DIC system, whereby surface deformations and strains could be computed using correlation algorithms. The 3D DIC system was implemented to enable third-order torque experimentation with the OTS while imaging the archwire and bracket surfaces. The 3D DIC system's ability to measure 3D archwire deformations and strains was verified using a finite element model, where comparisons between 3D DIC measurements and calculated results from the model were made to ensure the measurement capabilities of 3D DIC in the context of third-order torque. The 3D DIC system was then used to compare archwire behaviour between stainless steel (SS) and titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA) archwires to study potential clinical differences in archwire behaviour, in which the archwires were rotated with a custom SS rigid dowel (RD) as well as commercial Damon Q orthodontic brackets. The quantification of third-order torque and archwire deformations and strains led to the conclusion that SS archwires led to larger torque magnitudes compared to TMA archwires. The RD resulted in larger archwire strains compared to Damon Q brackets. The 3D DIC system provides a non-contact measurement technique that can further be used with third-order torque experimentation with the OTS.

Experimental investigation of OSB sheathed timber frame shear walls with strong anchorage subjected to cyclic lateral loading

Sheathed timber frame shear walls (STFSW) with strong anchorage have recently been studied to be used as the main lateral force resisting system in timber buildings. The first part of this research project highlighted the enhancement of the shear stiffness and strength of the STFSWs with strong anchorage in comparison with the established configuration of light-frame timber shear walls under monotonic horizontal loading. In this paper, the in-plane seismic behavior of STFSWs with strong anchorage was further investigated by means of quasi-static monotonic and cyclic loading tests on large-scale timber shear walls. The boundary conditions of the specimens were considered more realistically by applying a combination of vertical force and bending moment on top of the walls. In addition to the ISO 21581, the walls were tested under a new horizontal cyclic loading protocol especially developed for the low-to-medium seismicity regions. The STFSWs with strong anchorage showed a marginally higher shear resistance under cyclic loading. Nevertheless, in terms of ultimate displacement, they did not evidently perform as well as under monotonic loading when subjected to cyclic loading. Withdrawing of staples was the main failure of the stapled connections resulting in the out-of-plane displacement of the sheathing panels, which was clearly observed by the 3D digital image correlation measurement system. The low-to- moderate seismicity loading protocol was not highly influential on their shear resistance and displacement capacity.

Finite element analysis of in-situ distortion and bulging for an arbitrarily curved additive manufacturing directed energy deposition geometry

With the recent rise in the demand for additive manufacturing (AM), the need for reliable simulation tools to support experimental efforts grows steadily. Computational welding mechanics approaches can simulate the AM processes but are generally not validated for AM-specific effects originating from multiple heating and cooling cycles. To increase confidence in the outcomes and to use numerical simulation reliably, the result quality needs to be validated against experiments for in-situ and post-process cases. In this article, a validation is demonstrated for a structural thermomechanical simulation model on an arbitrarily curved Directed Energy Deposition (DED) part: at first, the validity of the heat input is ensured and subsequently, the model’s predictive quality for in-situ deformation and the bulging behaviour is investigated. For the in-situ deformations, 3D-Digital Image Correlation measurements are conducted that quantify periodic expansion and shrinkage as they occur. The results show a strong dependency of the local stiffness of the surrounding geometry. The numerical simulation model is set up in accordance with the experiment and can reproduce the measured 3-dimensional in-situ displacements. Furthermore, the deformations due to removal from the substrate are quantified via 3D-scanning, exhibiting considerable distortions due to stress relaxation. Finally, the prediction of the deformed shape is discussed in regards to bulging simulation: to improve the accuracy of the calculated final shape, a novel extension of the model relying on the modified stiffness of inactive upper layers is proposed and the experimentally observed bulging could be reproduced in the finite element model.

Residual stress estimation based on 3D DIC displacement filed measurement around drilled holes

Residual stress might influence noticeably fatigue strength and fracture behavior of materials, therefore accurate methods of its determination are desired. The most popular method up today is based on strain measurements resulted from material relaxation near the drilled hole. Tensometric rosettes of defined geometry are used for strain measurements in 3 or 6 positions around the hole. The method has some drawbacks related to its sensitivity to hole and rosette centers eccentricity, averaging strain from tensometers area, time consuming rosettes fixing procedures and calculations based on only a few strain readings. Tensometric rosettes might be replaced by non-contact optical displacement fields measurements by means of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) giving much more information (hundreds or thousands of data points) for residual stress calculations. In the paper results of experiments concerning 3D DIC measurements usage for displacement field determination near the drilled hole in preloaded steel samples which afterwards were used as input data in the iterative procedure for the analytical model parameters fitting are presented. Details of testing stand allowing precise hole drilling without need of cameras used for DIC measurements movement during the drilling process and algorithm for inverse method calculations are described. Additionally, FEM model developed for introducing correction terms for blind hole case to the analytical model existing only for through hole instance is discussed.

Application of 3D DIC Displacement Field Measurement in Residual Stress Calculations

Abstract The knowledge of residual stress distribution is of great importance from the viewpoint of both, industrial and basal research. The most commonly utilized method of residual stress determination is based on strain measurements near the drilled holes of known geometry made by means of tensometric rosettes. An alternative to tensometers way of strain measurement is Digital Image Correlation (DIC). This optical method utilizes digital images registered during observed object deformation and delivers results in the form of displacement field maps consisting of hundreds or thousands of data points. Therefore, it is possible to deliver much more data in comparison to rosettes (only 3 or 6 tensometers, usually) and use them in the inverse method numeric procedure for residual stress calculations. In the paper the experimental stand consisting of micro driller and stereo imaging system for 3D DIC measurement and its application to residual stress estimation in prestrained steel samples are presented followed by obtained results discussion.

Using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in Dynamic Punch Tests

A dynamic punch test in which three dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) is used to measure the deformation of the rear surface of a disk specimen is introduced. Flat, round Ti-6Al-4V disk specimens are clamped to a custom die fixture that is attached to the transmitter bar of a compression split-Hopkinson bar (SHB) apparatus. A tungsten carbide punch is attached to the incident bar and positioned such that it is in contact with the disk. During a test, a compression wave is introduced into the incident bar which causes the punch to penetrate into the specimen. The die fixture is slotted on both sides such that the rear surface of the disk specimen is visible to two high speed cameras. This provides a stereographic view of the specimen that is used to measure full-field displacement directly on the specimen with three dimensional DIC. The contact force between the punch and the disk is determined from the wave in the transmitter bar. Quasi-static tests using the same fixtures are conducted on a servo-hydraulic load frame. Results from tests with punches of various geometries show that the punch geometry greatly influences the punching force and the failure mode. Forces in the dynamic tests are higher than in the quasi-static tests. The 3D DIC measurements provide data that can be used to construct and validate deformation failure models.

Digital image correlation as a tool for three-dimensional strain analysis in human tendon tissue.

BackgroundDetermining the mechanical behaviour of tendon and ligamentous tissue remains challenging, as it is anisotropic, non-linear and inhomogeneous in nature.MethodsIn this study, three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation (DIC) was adopted to examine the strain distribution in the human Achilles tendon. Therefore, 6 fresh frozen human Achilles tendon specimens were mounted in a custom made rig for uni-axial loading. 3D DIC measurements of each loading position were obtained and compared to 2 linear variable differential transformers (LVDT’s).Results3D DIC was able to calculate tendon strain in every region of all obtained images. The scatter was found to be low in all specimens and comparable to that obtained in steel applications. The accuracy of the 3D DIC measurement was higher in the centre of the specimen where scatter values around 0.03% strain were obtained. The overall scatter remained below 0.3% in all specimens. The spatial resolution of 3D DIC on human tendon tissue was found to be 0.1 mm2. The correlation coefficient between the 3D DIC measurements and the LVDT measurements showed an excellent linear agreement in all specimens (R2 = 0.99). Apart from the longitudinal strain component, an important transverse strain component was revealed in all specimens. The strain distribution of both components was of a strongly inhomogeneous nature, both within the same specimen and amongst different specimens.ConclusionDIC proved to be a very accurate and reproducible tool for 3D strain analysis in human tendon tissue.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40634-014-0007-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Formability of a non-crimp 3D orthogonal weave E-glass composite reinforcement

In this paper, the formability of a single layer E-glass non-crimp 3D orthogonal woven reinforcement (commercialized under trademark 3WEAVE® by 3Tex Inc.) is experimentally investigated. The study involves the forming process of the 3D fabric on two complex moulds, namely tetrahedron and double-dome. The tests are assisted by 3D digital image correlation measurement to have a continuous registration of the fabric local deformation. Moreover, the results of bending tests in warp and weft direction are detailed to enlarge the mechanical properties data set of the 3D reinforcement, necessary for understanding its deformability capacities in forming processes. The elevated bending stiffness of the 3D fabric means that use of a blank-holder during forming is not required. The reinforcement has a good drapability and it is able to form complex shapes without defects (wrinkles and fibre distortions). The collected experimental results represent an important dataset for numerical simulations of any complex shape with the considered 3D fabric composite reinforcement.

3D digital image correlation measurements during shaping of a non-crimp 3D orthogonal woven E-glass reinforcement

This paper illustrates a methodology for the characterization of textile composite reinforcements during experimental simulation of forming processes. In particular, being the shear deformation considered as the primary deformation mechanism during shaping, the evolution of shear angle distribution on the reinforcement surface is measured by means of 3D digital image correlation analyses. Two different image correlation software programs, i.e. VIC-3D and MatchID3D, are used to study the forming process of a single layer E-glass non-crimp 3D orthogonal woven reinforcement (commercialized under trademark 3WEAVE® by 3Tex Inc.). The comparison of the displacement and shear angle distributions of the reinforcement, shaped on tetrahedral and double-dome moulds, pointed out a good agreement between the results obtained with both software packages.

Characterising the behaviour of composite single lap bonded joints using digital image correlation

Three-dimensional and two-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) have been used to evaluate the evolution of deformation and strain in composite single lap bonded joints prior to failure. In general, composite components are increasingly being joined using structural adhesives for aerospace and other safety critical applications. Reliable design requires that the mechanical behaviour of composite bonded joints is well understood. In this respect, experimental tests are crucial to (a) characterise the deformation and strains induced under load and (b) develop and validate realistic numerical models. Although modern numerical models contain many degrees of freedom, only a few degrees of freedom are typically measured using conventional instrumentation such as strain gauges and extensometers. However, 3D DIC provides an opportunity to measure full-field deformations and surface strains. In the current study, 3D DIC was successfully used to measure full-field in-plane surface strains and out-of-plane surface deformations for composite single lap bonded joints (adherends manufactured from both fibre preimpregnated resin (pre-preg) and resin infused non-crimp-fabric (NCF)). Moreover, strategically located strain gauges were used to validate the strains measured by 3D DIC. Finally, 3D DIC measurements may be useful in detecting subcritical damage as shown in the case of the pre-preg joint. The specific location and magnitude of the maximum principal strain in the adhesive fillet region were determined using high magnification 2D DIC.

Analytical calculation of stress intensity factor of cracked steel I-beams with experimental analysis and 3D digital image correlation measurements

An analytical method to calculate the stress intensity factor for cracked steel I-beams under both bending moment and axial load is presented. The method is based on the approach of crack surface widening energy release rate. The crack surface widening energy release rate is formulated by a G ∗-integral and elementary strength theory of materials. Comparisons between the analytical results and results available in the literature for specific cases demonstrate the validity of the methodology. Furthermore, the fatigue and fracture behavior of the steel I-beam are experimentally investigated. The fatigue crack growth rate, residual deflection and stiffness reduction of a cracked beam under cyclic loading are studied. A three-dimensional digital image correlation system is used to illustrate the stress evolution pattern and the plasticity zone around the crack tip using image processing technique, thereby providing further verification of the theoretical models.

Mechanical identification of layer-specific properties of mouse carotid arteries using 3D-DIC and a hyperelastic anisotropic constitutive model

The role of mechanics is known to be of primary order in many arterial diseases; however, determining mechanical properties of arteries remains a challenge. This paper discusses the identifiability of the passive mechanical properties of a mouse carotid artery, taking into account the orientation of collagen fibres in the medial and adventitial layers. On the basis of 3D digital image correlation measurements of the surface strain during an inflation/extension test, an inverse identification method is set up. It involves a 3D finite element mechanical model of the mechanical test and an optimisation algorithm. A two-layer constitutive model derived from the Holzapfel model is used, with five and then seven parameters. The five-parameter model is successfully identified providing layer-specific fibre angles. The seven-parameter model is over parameterised, yet it is shown that additional data from a simple tension test make the identification of refined layer-specific data reliable.

The effect of out-of-plane motion on 2D and 3D digital image correlation measurements

The effect of out-of-plane motion (including out-of-plane translation and rotation) on two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation measurements is demonstrated using basic theoretical pinhole image equations and experimentally through synchronized, multi-system measurements. Full-field results obtained during rigid body, out-of-plane motion using a single-camera vision system with (a-1) a standard f55mm Nikon lens and (a-2) a single Schneider–Kreuznach Xenoplan telecentric lens are compared with data obtained using a two-camera stereovision system with standard f55mm Nikon lenses. Results confirm that the theoretical equations are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. Specifically, results show that (a) a single-camera, 2D imaging system is sensitive to out-of-plane motion, with in-plane strain errors (a-1) due to out-of-plane translation being proportional to Δ Z/ Z, where Z is the distance from the object to the pin hole and Δ Z the out-of-plane translation displacement, and (a-2) due to out-of-plane rotation are shown to be a function of both rotation angle and the image distance Z; (b) the telecentric lens has an effective object distance, Z eff, that is 50× larger than the 55 mm standard lens, with a corresponding reduction in strain errors from 1250 μs/mm of out-of-plane motion to 25 μs/mm; and (c) a stereovision system measures all components of displacement without introducing measurable, full-field, strain errors, even though an object may undergo appreciable out-of-plane translation and rotation.