Two-dimensional Digital Image Correlation Research Articles

Experimental Study of Strain Measurement using 2D Digital Image Correlation on Fixation Plate and Calcaneus Bone Fracture

The plate and screw internal fixation technique is widely used for the treatment of fractured bones. Determining the mechanical behavior of bone plates under load conditions remains challenging, as it is anisotropic, non-linear, and inhomogeneous. Bone strain is frequently measured using strain gages, but they can only measure the strain at a single point. The optical method known as digital image correlation (DIC) provides the displacement and consequently the strain over the entire region of interest on the bone surface. The objective of this study was to investigate the strain changes in the surface of a calcaneus plate fixation during load compression using the digital image correlation method. In this study, a two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC) and strain gauges-based experimental methodology for calculating calcaneal plate strains is presented. A 500 N static load was applied to a synthetic calcaneus that was both plate-covered and intact. A Sanders type II fractured calcaneus was stabilized with stainless steel (316L) plate. At the same locations on the calcaneus plate, displacement and strains were recorded. According to the results of the DIC method, the maximum strain values along the x, y, and shear directions were 0.008, 0.010, and 0.012 mm, respectively, while the measurement result for the strain gauge was 0.0015 mm. The experimental result had a slightly lower strain gauge than the DIC method’s output. The results of the experiment and the DIC were thought to be in good agreement.

Multi-thread two-dimensional digital image correlation for full-field displacement and rotation angle measurement

Multi-thread two-dimensional digital image correlation for full-field displacement and rotation angle measurement

Global and Local Deformation Analysis of Mg-SiC Nanocomposites: Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Representative Volume Element (RVE) Techniques

Improving the ductile deformation behavior of Mg-SiC nanocomposites without compromising strength is critical to enhancing their mechanical properties. Mg-SiC nanocomposites are produced through mechanical milling, cold isostatic pressing, sintering, and hot extrusion processes. This study investigates the uniaxial stress–strain response and deformation behavior of the Mg-SiC nanocomposite compared to pure Mg samples with and without the milling process. The deformation behavior was investigated by two-dimensional (2D) digital image correlation (DIC) at two macroscopic and microscopic scales, employing light micrographs and in situ loading samples, respectively, in the scanning electron microscope. Compared to the pure Mg samples, the mechanical test results demonstrated a significant improvement in strength (80 MPa) and fracture strain (23.5%) of the Mg-SiC nanocomposite. The three-dimensional (3D) representative volume element (RVE) model revealed the particle dispersion effect on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite. The RVE results demonstrate ductile deformation behavior in the sample with homogenous dispersion of SiC particles compared with the heterogeneous dispersion of SiC particles in Mg-SiC nanocomposite. The results demonstrated a good agreement between DIC and RVE predictions for Mg-SiC nanocomposites across macro- and microscales.

Performance of delaminated CFRP composite under pure bending using two-dimensional digital image correlation

ABSTRACT Delamination is an interlaminar damage which may be pre-existing in multilayered fibre reinforced polymer composite parts due to manufacturing imperfections or generated by out of plane loading during service life. Its existence leads to significant reduction of structural integrity, strength and stiffness of the material. Hence, to study the effect of induced delamination on the performance of a composite under pure bending, a circular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film was introduced between the second and third plies of a sixteen layered carbon/epoxy laminate during fabrication. The bending tests were conducted in displacement control mode. The displacements and strains were measured through the thickness of the composite using two-dimensional digital image correlation. The damage modes were captured using CCD camera and the causes were explained. The flexural strength and modulus of composite were 329.74 MPa and 104.58 GPa respectively. The delaminated composite behaved as a single member without any crack within the elastic range. The existence of PTFE drastically reduced flexural stiffness of composite beyond the stress at 75.81% of its ultimate strength. The ± 45º plies offered low mechanical performance against the induced off axis loading. Hence, in these plies fibre breakage was higher. In the portion of PTFE, the strains were higher due to larger outward displacements produced by local buckling.

Crack Detection of Asphalt Concrete Using Combined Fracture Mechanics and Digital Image Correlation

Cracking is a common failure mode in asphalt concrete (AC) pavements. Many tests have been developed to characterize the fracture behavior of AC. Accurate crack detection during testing is crucial to describe AC fracture behavior. This paper proposes a framework to detect surface cracks in AC specimens using two-dimensional digital image correlation (DIC). Two significant drawbacks in previous research in this field were addressed. First, a multiseed incremental reliability-guided DIC was proposed to solve the decorrelation issue due to large deformation and discontinuities. The method was validated using synthetic deformed images. A correctly implemented analysis could accurately measure strains up to 450%, even with significant discontinuities (cracks) present in the deformed image. Second, a robust method was developed to detect cracks based on displacement fields. The proposed method uses critical crack tip opening displacement (δc) to define the onset of cleavage fracture. The proposed method relies on well-developed fracture mechanics theory. The proposed threshold δc has a physical meaning and can be easily determined from DIC measurement. The method was validated using an extended finite-element model. The framework was implemented to measure the crack-propagation rate while conducting the Illinois-flexibility index test on two AC mixes. The calculated rates could distinguish mixes based on their cracking potential. The proposed framework could be applied to characterize AC cracking phenomenon, evaluate its fracture properties, assess asphalt mixture testing protocols, and develop theoretical models.

Tensile performance of aluminum alloy roof panel-member clamp connection

In aluminum alloy reticulated shell structures with gusset joints, the roof panel is effectively connected with the structural members through a clamp connection, enabling the roof panels to participate in the force resisting system. The performance of the connection between the roof panels and the members is the foundation for studying the collaborative action of the roof panels and the members. Relevant studies have shown that when the roof panels participate in the force resisting system, there is mainly a tensile force in the roof panels perpendicular to the axis of the members. Therefore, this paper experimentally studied the mechanical performance of the clamp connection between the roof panels and the members under the tensile force in the roof panels, and employed two-dimensional plane digital image correlation (DIC) to measure the deformation of the specimen section during the entire loading process, thus exploring the force transmission mechanism of the connection. The tensile capacity of the connection can be divided into four stages: roof panel sliding, roof panel tension–shear, lower limb bending of the strip, and roof panel bending stages. The mechanical index of the connection is primarily determined by the tension–shear stage of the roof panel, and the ultimate strength and stiffness can be determined as the peak load and linear segment stiffness of the connection at this stage. The refined finite element model was further established, and it was verified that the model could efficiently simulate the mechanical properties of the connection through comparison with the test. Parametric analysis shows that with an increase in the friction coefficient between materials, roof panel thickness, angle between roof panel and flange, and bolt length adjustment, the restraint on the roof panel increases, and the failure mode of the clamp connection changes. Based on the parametric analysis, the recommended values of the friction coefficient between the materials, minimum panel thickness, minimum bolt screw depth, and maximum bolt spacing are provided. Finally, combined with the theoretical analysis, calculation formulas for the tensile strength and stiffness of the connection were proposed. A comparison with the test results indicates that the prediction accuracy of the formula proposed in this study is good.

Projectile Impact on Plain and Reinforced Concrete Slabs

Reinforced concrete is a material frequently used in protective structures and infrastructure exposed to extreme loading. In this study, the ballistic perforation resistance of 100 mm thick plain and reinforced concrete slabs impacted by 20 mm ogive-nose steel projectiles was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Two different reinforcement configurations were used to investigate the effect of rebar diameter and spacing. Concrete with nominal unconfined compressive strength of 75 MPa was used to cast material test specimens and slabs. Ballistic impact tests were performed in a compressed gas gun facility. The mechanical properties of the concrete were found using standardised tests and two-dimensional digital image correlation, and the constitutive relation was described by a modified version of the Holmquist-Johnson-Cook model. Finite element models in LS-DYNA reproduced the projectile residual velocity in good agreement with the experimental results. The primary objective of the study was thus to validate a rather simple constitutive relation intended for large scale numerical simulations of concrete structures exposed to ballistic impact loading, while a secondary objective was to investigate the effect of reinforcement on the ballistic perforation resistance of concrete slabs both experimentally and numerically since the literature is somewhat inconsistent on this matter.

Full-Field Vibration Measurements by Using High-Speed Two-Dimensional Digital Image Correlation

This work developed a method that uses a single monochrome high-speed camera without sacrificing the spatial resolution to measure both in-plane and out-of-plane full-field vibrations. By using the high-speed camera and a two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC) algorithm, the method first extracts the out-of-plane displacement field from the measured virtual in-plane strains. Then it retrieves the in-plane displacement field after eliminating the out-of-plane motion-induced virtual component. For validation, in-plane and out-of-plane translation tests and single-frequency vibration experiments were carried out. The measurement results show good agreement with the reference values, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed high-speed 2D-DIC (HS-2D-DIC). Further, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a rectangular cantilever panel were also measured successfully, exhibiting the method’s effectiveness in practical applications. Since the HS-2D-DIC requires only a single monochrome camera, no complex optical setup, and no complicated calibration process, the method can be developed as a competitive tool for full-field vibration characterizations.

Finite Element Analysis of Split Sleeve Cold Expansion Process on Multiple Hole Aluminum Alloy.

Multiple cold expansion holes are widely used in connection areas of aircraft structures, in order to achieve uniform load transfer of the skin or connection parts. Split sleeve cold expansion (SSCE) is widely used to enhance the fatigue life of fastener holes by applying compressive residual stresses around the holes. In this study, the finite element method (FEM) was used to research the distribution and variation of residual stresses along the hole edges of 7075AA single-hole and multi-hole cold expansion (CE) specimens. Full-field strain measurements of single-hole and multi-hole specimens were performed using two-dimensional digital image correlation (DIC), and the residual stress and strain at the hole edge of the specimens measured by FEM and DIC were compared. FEM results shows that the maximum circumferential and radial residual stresses of three-hole specimens with three-hole spacing are increased by 5.37% and 31.53% compared with single-hole specimens. The maximum circumferential residual stress of three-hole specimens with four-hole spacing increases by 7.25% compared with a single hole, but the radial residual stress decreases by 12.98%. In addition, for three-hole specimens with hole spacing three times the hole diameter, the strengthening effect of SSCE in the order of middle hole, then left hole, and, finally, right hole is better than that of SSCE in the order of left to right hole. FEM and DIC full-field strain results are basically consistent.

Digital Image Correlation Characterization of Deformation Behavior and Cracking of Porous Segmented Alumina under Uniaxial Compression

In this study, the two-dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) technique has been applied to sequences of images taken from the surfaces of porous, segmented alumina samples during uniaxial compression tests. The sintered alumina was structurally composed of polycrystalline alumina grains with interior ~3–5-μm pores, a network of discontinuities that subdivided the sample into ~230 μm segments, and ~110 μm pores located at the discontinuity network nodes. Bimodal pore structure and the segment boundaries were the results of the evaporation and the outgassing of the paraffin and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene admixed with alumina powder via slip casting. Only partial bonding bridges between the segments were formed during a low-temperature sintering at 1300 °C for 1 h. A special technological approach made it possible to change the strength of the partial bonding bridges between the segments, which significantly affected the deformation behavior ceramics during compression. The subpixel accuracy of the DIC results was achieved using an interpolation scheme for the identification functional. The vector fields obtained in the experiment made it possible to characterize the processes of deformation and destruction of a porous, segmented alumina using the strain localization in situ maps, cardinal plastic shear, and circulation of vector fields. The use of these characteristics made it possible to reveal new details in the mechanisms of deformation and destruction of segmented ceramics. The localizations of damage were identified and related to the characteristic structural heterogeneities of the tested porous segmented ceramics.

Mechanical Performance Study of Pipe-Liner Composite Structure Based on the Digital Image Correlation Method

Repair of reinforced concrete drainage pipes is often performed using polyethylene (PE) lining. To investigate the bearing capacity characteristics of a repaired composite structure, this study conducted experiments on three groups, namely, PE pipes, reinforced concrete pipes, and composite-reinforced concrete PE pipes (count = 9). The cracking and ultimate loads of the three groups under plate loads were evaluated and analyzed. A displacement monitoring method based on two-dimensional digital image correlation (2-D-DIC) and three-dimensional digital image correlation (3-D-DIC) techniques is proposed, and the quantitative laws of strain distribution at the end face of the specimen are obtained. Furthermore, the damage mechanism of the reinforced concrete pipe and the interface spalling damage mechanism of the composite-reinforced concrete PE under load were investigated to reveal the effect of PE lining improvement on the bearing capacity of the reinforced concrete pipe. The maximum deviation of the specimen vertical displacement results obtained using the new noncontact 3-D-DIC method is 2.6% compared with that of the traditional physical sensor method, and this method can successfully capture the deformation and strain data of the target specimen. Therefore, the noncontact DIC method has a broad application prospect in municipal pipeline early warning monitoring systems.

Characterizing the Tensile Behavior of Double Wire-Feed Electron Beam Additive Manufactured “Copper–Steel” Using Digital Image Correlation

The paper presents the results of the evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of samples of multi-metal “copper-steel” structures fabricated by additive double wire electron beam method. The global and local mechanical characteristics were evaluated using uniaxial tensile tests and full-field two-dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) method. DIC revealed the peculiarities of the fracture stages: at the first stage (0.02<ε≤0.08) the formation of V-shaped shear lines occurs; at the second stage (0.08<ε≤0.15) transverse shear lines lead to the formation of a block structure; at the third stage (0.15<ε≤0.21) the plasticity resource ends in the central part of the two necks cracks are formed, and the main crack is the cause of the fracture of the joint. It is found that shear lines are formed first in copper and then propagate to steel. Electron microscopy proves that uniformly distributed iron particles could always be found in the “Fe-Cu” and “Cu-Fe” interfaces. Additionally, the evolution of average strain rates and standard deviations were measured (calculated) in the regions of necks in copper and steel regions. New shear approach shows that the most of angles for parallel shears components are ±45°, rupture angles are about 0°, and combined account of these two types of shears provides us additional discrete angles.

Study on dynamic shear deformation behaviors and test methodology of sawtooth-shaped rock joints under impact load

Shear slip of rock joints under dynamic disturbance is a major factor causing disasters such as landslides and cavern instability. To explore the dynamic shear deformation behaviors of rock joints, an impact-induced direct shear test applicable for jointed rock specimen is conducted. A biaxial Hopkinson pressure bar (BHPB) equipment is employed, which can simulate intensive disturbances encountered during engineering construction in rock masses. Tangential and normal dynamic stresses on rock joint can be measured simultaneously through stress wave acquisition. Dynamic displacements are obtained based on a two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC) technique. Firstly, the feasibility of the experimental method is verified by trial tests on metallic specimens. The measurement technique for obtaining the dynamic stress and displacement of joint is proposed. Then, a series of dynamic shear experiments are carried out on jointed and intact granite specimens, respectively. The dynamic shear deformation of the specimens is obtained, and the effects and mechanisms of undulating angle and initial normal stress on the dynamic shear deformation are discussed. The test results show that, due to the variable input force and normal stress, the shear rate varies. The dynamic slip of the joint can be divided into three sub-stages: slip initiation, secondary stress accumulation, and post-slip. The shearing process of intact rock includes two stages: shear stress accumulation and post-peak damage. Deformation rebounding is also observed in the jointed and intact granite specimens. The maximum shear displacement is negatively correlated with the normal stress and the undulating angle. Based on the distribution and evolution of displacement field in rock specimen, the effects of undulating angle and normal stress on the shear strength and the maximum shear displacement are revealed. Finally, the damage modes of rock joint under different conditions are discussed.

Effect of support conditions on the performance of B70 sleeper overlying reinforced ballast and sub-ballast layer: Experimental and analytical investigation

It is well known that the moment distribution on the sleepers is very sensitive to deformations of the ballast caused by cyclic axle load over time and other environmental factors. To limit the non-uniform deformations of the ballast, reinforcement of the ballast or sub-ballast with geosynthetics can be a cost-effective solution. In this study, B70 prestressed concrete sleepers were tested under static loading conditions in a special test box developed to simulate the in-situ condition of a railroad track in the laboratory. The main test parameters were the degree of settlement of the ballast and the type of geosynthetics used. Four different settlement levels and two reinforcement types (sub ballast with geonet and ballast with geocells) were considered. The deflections and surface strain maps of the concrete sleepers were measured using the two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC) method. Following the experimental part, an analytical study was also carried out to investigate the ballast pressure distribution and consequently the moment distribution on the concrete sleeper. Based on the vertical deflection shape of the sleeper, a new algorithm was developed to derive the ballast pressure distribution under the sleeper by back calculation. The experimental results showed that using geocells to reinforce the ballast layer increased the stiffness of the ballast against the vertical deflection of the sleeper. From the analytical results, the magnitude of the negative bending moment increased significantly with increasing settlement level.

Identification of Stop Criteria for Large-Scale Laboratory Slab Tests Using Digital Image Correlation and Acoustic Emission

Advanced monitoring methods are required to identify stop criteria in proof-load tests. In this study, the combined methodology of two-dimensional digital image correlation and acoustic emission is investigated for its applicability for future implementation in field tests. The two monitoring systems are deemed to provide valuable insight with external measurements from digital image correlation and internal measurements from acoustic emission. Two overturned T-section reinforced concrete slabs (0.37 × 1.7 × 8.4 m) tested under laboratory conditions are used for the assessment. The first slab test served as a preliminary test to enable sensor placement and creation of a relevant loading protocol. The main scientific results lead to a proposal for a test procedure using the combined methodology based on results, observations, and experiences from an individual stop criteria assessment for the two methods. The results include full-field plots, an investigation of the time of crack detection and monitoring of crack widths with digital image correlation, and a qualitative assessment of activity vs. load followed by a quantitative evaluation of calm ratios using acoustic emission. The individual results show that both digital image correlation and acoustic emission can identify damage occurrence earlier than other secondary methods. At crack detection (415 kN), crack widths were measured at widths between 0.078 mm to 0.125 mm and can be monitored until reaching the stop criterion at 463 kN (Eurocode SLS threshold of wmax = 0.2 mm). The acoustic emission results were limited by the pre-defined loading protocol and thus, only indicated that damage occurred sometime between 300 kN and 500 kN (pre-defined load levels). Therefore, the proposal for test procedure involves a methodology, where the loading protocol may be updated during testing based on monitoring results and thus provide even more valuable data.

Vibration Measurement of a Metal Sheet Using Single-Camera Digital Image Correlation with Projection Components

Digital image correlation has emerged as a popular method for the dynamic performance measurement of metallic and polymer sheets, owing to the benefits of being a noncontact, full-field, and high-precision method. Two or more high-speed cameras are required for full-field vibration measurements with three-dimensional digital image correlation, which is generally costly. Perpendicular view to the specimen surface is conventional in two-dimensional digital image correlation, and the out-of-plane displacement is regarded as a part of systematic errors. In this study, a single view method was implemented with no complex optical settings. The full-field vibration displacement of the metal sheet was measured with projection components, and the first four orders of displacement modes were identified. Finite element analysis and traditional experimental modal analysis were then implemented to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed approach. The results show that the dynamic parameters, including the natural frequencies and mode shapes, were well consistent. Meanwhile, there is a significant difference in the length of mode shape vectors. The number of measurement points in the proposed method is 2016, which is far more than the number of measurement points in the traditional experimental modal analysis. This would be convenient and beneficial for damage identification towards thin-wall parts including turbine blade with the continuum hypothesis of mode shapes and a single-camera DIC system. It is worth noting that this is effective with conditions of small deformation vibration and no rigid-body rotation.

In-situ temperature-dependent characterization of copper through glass via (TGV)

Glass has been proposed as a promising material for interposer because of its outstanding material properties. The development of through-glass via (TGV) technology is the most challenging process in the fabrication of glass interposers. This study investigates thermomechanical responses of TGVs induced by thermal loading. Optical profilometry was used to measure the protrusion of copper vias during thermal cycling. The TGV was heated from room temperature (RT) 23 °C to 400 °C and then cooled to RT. The height of an irreversible copper protrusion was recorded at different temperatures. In-plane deformation of the glass caused by thermal mismatch is investigated. Two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D DIC) was applied to measure the in-plane deformation of the glass near the copper via during thermal cycling. The in-plane displacement of the glass near copper vias reached its maximum around 250 °C, then started decreasing because of the copper protrusion and the significant creep of copper material at elevated temperatures. The effect of temperature ramp rate (4 °C/min, 15 °C/min, 30 °C/min, 50 °C/min) on the in-plane deformation of the glass was studied. The in-plane deformation of the glass can be reduced be applying slower ramp rate, because more significant creep occurs in the copper with slower ramp rate which alleviates the CTE mismatch-induced thermal stress at the copper-glass interface. Measurements were conducted to study the creep behavior of the copper via at different temperatures with one hour duration. Each of four TGV samples was heated to a peak temperature, 100 °C, 200 °C, 300 °C, and 400 °C, respectively, and the temperatures were held for 1 h. The glass in-plane displacements were measured by a 2D DIC. Numerical simulations were performed to provide an insight into the thermomechanical behavior of the copper vias and the glass during thermal cycling. The equivalent creep strain of the copper and the maximum principal stress of the glass are presented based on the simulation results.

Damage evaluation and precursor of sandstone under the uniaxial compression: Insights from the strain-field heterogeneity.

The stress-induced microcrack evolution in rock specimens causes a series of physical changes and heterogeneous deformations. Some of these attributes (such as sound, electricity, heat, etc.) have been effectively used to identify the damage state and precursory information of the rock specimens. However, the strain-field heterogeneity has not been investigated previously. In this study, the relationship of the strain-field heterogeneity and damage evolution of three sandstone specimens under the uniaxial compressive load was analyzed statistically. The acoustic emission (AE) and two-dimensional digital image correlation were employed for real-time evaluation of the AE parameters and strain-field heterogeneity. The results showed that the strain-field heterogeneity was closely related to the rock damage that amplified with the applied stress, and exhibited two features; numerical difference and spatial concentration. Subsequently, these two features were characterized by the two proposed heterogeneous quantitative indicators (i.e., the degree and space heterogeneities). Further, their four transition processes were in agreement with the damage stages confirmed by AE parameters: a relatively constant trend; growth with a relatively constant rate; drastic increase trend; and increase with a high rate to maximum value. Moreover, a time sequence chain for damage precursor was built, where the heterogeneous quantitative indicators and AE parameters differed in sensitivity to microcrack development and can be used as a damage warning at the varying magnitude of the external load.

Material properties and mechanical behaviour of functionally graded steel produced by wire-arc additive manufacturing

Metal Big Area Additive Manufacturing is an additive manufacturing technique based on Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) with the option to use many shielding gases, and materials. The system is equipped with a dual torch design allowing for printing different materials; in our study, AISI 410 stainless steel and AWS ER70S-6 mild steel are both printed in the same component. Different print strategies were designed to highlight changes in material and mechanical properties. Deformation behaviour of a materials’ interface was analysed by two-dimensional digital image correlation of uniaxial tensile specimens in displacement-controlled tests. Instances of non-homogeneous local strains adjacent to the interface are observed, as well as variability in mechanical behaviour and microstructure based on location within the print. Optical and electron microscopy are used to evaluate three microstructural zones in a 5 mm range of the interface between mild steel and stainless steel. Areas far from the interface produced polygonal ferrite and pearlite, while areas close to the interface produced acicular ferrite and bainite. Chromium redistribution profiles are dependent on the print strategy used, as shown by scanning electron microscopy with Energy dispersive spectroscopy. Evidence produced via electron backscatter diffraction is shown to support the argument that transformation induced plasticity is not the cause for the non-homogeneous deformation.

Localised strain in fissured clays: the combined effect of fissure orientation and confining pressure

This paper reports the main results of an experimental study on the mechanics of intensely fissured natural clays, extending our previous studies on scaly clay from Santa Croce di Magliano. While previous work focused on the influence of the orientation of fissures with respect to the loading direction, the present investigation specifically explores an additional, important variable: the stress level. The combined effect of fissure orientation and confining pressure was studied by setting up a large campaign of plane strain compression experiments, in which different combinations of these two variables were tested. Conventional global stress–strain measurements were complemented by measuring displacement and strain fields through two-dimensional digital image correlation. Such rich information provided a clear and consistent picture of the interplay between fissure orientation and stress level and revealed complex deformation patterns, which cannot be ignored for a proper interpretation of the material response.