Digital Image Correlation Tool Research Articles

EVALUATION OF HOPKINSON BAR EXPERIMENTS USING MULTIPLE DIGITAL IMAGE CORRELATION SOFTWARE TOOLS

Three different tools for Digital Image Correlation (DIC) were used for evaluation of dynamic experiments performed using custom Open Hopkinson Pressure Bar (OHPB) apparatus. High strain-rate measurements were performed on specimens of advanced cellular materials with predefined structure and negative Poisson’s ratio. Low impedance polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bars instrumented with foil strain-gauges were used for dynamic loading of the specimens. Experiments were observed using a pair of high-speed cameras for imaging of loading process in sufficient quality. Custom developed evaluation DIC tool implemented in Matlab, open-source Matlab tool (NCorr) and commercial DIC software (ISTRA 4D) were all used for evaluation of image sequences recorded by high-speed cameras. Comparison of results obtained using all three different DIC tools and results of complementary strain-gauge measurement are shown in this paper. Verification of reliability of custom made DIC software tool is presented.

DIGITAL IMAGE CORRELATION FROM COMMERCIAL TO FOS SOFTWARE: A MATURE TECHNIQUE FOR FULL-FIELD DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENTS

Abstract. In the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in studying non-contact methods for full-field displacement and strain measurement. Among such techniques, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has received particular attention, thanks to its ability to provide these information by comparing digital images of a sample surface before and after deformation. The method is now commonly adopted in the field of civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering and different companies and some research groups implemented 2D and 3D DIC software. In this work a review on DIC software status is given at first. Moreover, a free and open source 2D DIC software is presented, named py2DIC and developed in Python at the Geodesy and Geomatics Division of DICEA of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”; its potentialities were evaluated by processing the images captured during tensile tests performed in the Structural Engineering Lab of the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and comparing them to those obtained using the commercial software Vic-2D developed by Correlated Solutions Inc, USA. The agreement of these results at one hundredth of millimetre level demonstrate the possibility to use this open source software as a valuable 2D DIC tool to measure full-field displacements on the investigated sample surface.

Tomographic investigation of the fracture toughness of the quasi-brittle specimens subjected to four-point bending test

It is well known that detailed investigation of fracture mechanics of the quasi-brittle materials is rather complicated task as standard loading devices do not allow to interrupt loading test after reaching maximal loading force. The reason is that the point of maximal loading force is followed by the evolution of the fracture processes, due to elastic energy stored in the loading device itself. This fundamental obstacle was overcome in this work thanks to a newly developed compact four-point bending device. We show that shape of the crack can be evaluated on the basis of the so called differential tomography, which compares reference and actual states of the loaded specimen. Similarly, it is possible to evaluate displacement and strain fields by analyzing the series of loading states using the digital image correlation tools. Using such a methodology, local fracture toughness KIc is calculated thanks to information about of the crack path and evaluated CTOD parameter.

A single camera three‐dimensional digital image correlation system for the study of adiabatic shear bands

AbstractWe describe the capability of a high‐resolution three‐dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) system specifically designed for high strain‐rate experiments. Utilising open‐source camera calibration and two‐dimensional DIC tools within the MATLAB framework, a single camera three‐dimensional DIC system with submicron displacement resolution is demonstrated. The system has a displacement accuracy of up to 200 times the optical spatial resolution, matching that achievable with commercial systems. The surface strain calculations are benchmarked against commercially available software before being deployed on quasi‐static tests showcasing the ability to detect both in‐ and out‐of‐plane motion. Finally, a high strain‐rate (1.2×103 s−1) test was performed on a top‐hat sample compressed in a split‐Hopkinson pressure bar in order to highlight the inherent camera synchronisation and ability to resolve the adiabatic shear band phenomenon.

Development of a Biomimetic Metallic Femoral Stem: Methodological Approach

In this communication, a new methodological approach is proposed to develop a biomimetic metallic femoral stem. The design of this stem starts with the definition of an outer skin by reproducing the shape and overall dimensions of a Stryker® femoral stem to be implanted in an artificial femur model from Sawbones®. In-house algorithms are then used to generate two types of porous structures inside the outer skin: either a stochastic cubic-based porous structure or an ordered diamond-type porous structure. Next, a model of the femur-stem assembly is developed using the finite element method. The fully dense Stryker stem replica and two porous stems are fabricated using selective laser melting technology. Then, comparative mechanical testing is carried out using the ISO 7206-4 (2010) guidelines. These tests are conducted on an intact artificial femur (reference case) and on the identical femurs, but now implanted with the fully dense and porous stems. Using digital image correlation tools, the results of four series of tests are compared to assess which implant design leads to the lowest stress shielding in the implanted femur. Finally, the experimentally measured strain fields are compared to the numerical predictions to validate the numerical models.

Use of Open Source DIC Tools for Analysis of Multiple Cracking in Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Digital image correlation (DIC) became indispensable when monitoring and analyzing adevelopment of displacement or strain fields. The method is capable of capturing strain localization, itis not limited to a relative measurement of discrete points as conventional methods and appears to bemore accurate than measurements by means of extensometers or strain-gauges that often suffer fromimperfect attachment to the measured surface. As open source DIC tools appear, the method becomesfeasible and the development is supported by the growing computational power of modern computers.The presented paper introduces open source 2D DIC tools and simple rules to follow when employingthe method. The presented case study on behavior of fiber reinforced high-performance concretedemonstrates a computational feasibility, accuracy and sensitivity of the method for a relatively lowfinancial cost.

Correction of the X-ray tube spot movement as a tool for improvementof the micro-tomography quality

Nowadays X-ray tubes in conjunction with digital pixelated imagers are standardly utilized for high resolution radiography with several micrometre or even sub-micrometre resolution. Achievement of the same resolution in X-ray computed tomography is a more demanding task due to the time-dependent tube electron beam drift as well as thermal deformations of the tube. In our work, the beam drift caused by the long-term stabilization of the tube electron optics was measured by observation of radiographs of 75 μm big tin ball rigidly mounted onto the tube head. The tube spot movement comprising both the beam drift and the movement caused by thermal deformations of the tube and its fixture was evaluated measuring the virtual movement of the inspected object. For this purpose, radiographs were recorded periodically at the same object position. Both the beam drift as well as spot movement were evaluated with subpixel resolution using digital image correlation tools. It was proven that the quality of a tomographic reconstruction can be significantly improved by the correction of the spot movement.

Full 3D investigation and characterisation of capillary collapse of a loose unsaturated sand using X-ray CT

The aim of this paper is to characterise in 3D the capillary collapse phenomenon using X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) during water infiltration into a partially saturated soil. To understand the mechanisms leading to capillary collapse, we progressivelly saturated a specimen of sand by controlling the water pressure using the negative water column technique. During this imbibition process, we followed the granular structure using X-ray CT. The microstructure was analysed to assess the volume of water filling the pores and deformation of the granular skeleton using Volumetric Digital Image Correlation tools. Matheron’s granulometry was used in parallel to characterize the initial microstructure and its evolution during the imbibition. We show that the collapse phenomenon can occur in a clean sand and can be controlled continuously with the negative water column technique. The volume change of the specimen at local scale started at a particular water content which coincided with the coalescence of capillary bridges between grain clusters. Gravity effects leading to a non-negligible gradient of the hydrostatic pressure along the specimen’s height were observed and induced a vertical gradient of strain. Localisation of the vertical strain on conical surfaces and of the volumetric strain and water content at the bottom corner of the specimen appeared during the imbibition process. These localisations are thought to be due to an inhomogeneity of the initial density or/and an effect of cell walls facilitating the sliding of grains and the provision of water along preferential paths. However, in spite of those localisations, macroscopic measurements at the scale of the sample were representative of the local behaviour of the unsaturated sand.