Digital image correlation in experimental mechanics and image registration in computer vision: Similarities,differences and complements

Digital image correlation and image registration or matching are among the most widely used techniques in the fields of experimental mechanics and computer vision, respectively. Despite their applications in separate fields, both techniques primarily involve detecting the same physical points in two or more images. In this paper, a brief technical comparison of the two techniques is reviewed, and their similarities and differences as well as complements are presented. It is shown that some concepts from the image registration or matching technique can be applied to the digital image correlation technique to substantially enhance its performance, which can help broaden the applications of digital image correlation in scientific research and engineering practice.     

Controllable tomography phase microscopy

Tomography phase microscopy (TPM) is a new microscopic method that can quantitatively yield the volumetric 3D distribution of a sample׳s refractive index (RI), which is significant for cell biology research. In this paper, a controllable TPM system is introduced. In this system a circulatory phase-shifting method and piezoelectric ceramic are used which enable the TPM system to record the 3D RI distribution at a more controllable speed, from 1 to 40 fps, than in the other TPM systems reported. The resolution of the RI distribution obtained by this controllable TPM is much better than that in images recorded by phase contrast microscopy and interference tomography microscopy. The realization of controllable TPM not only allows for the application of TPM to the measurement of kinds of RI sample, but also contributes to academic and technological support for the practical use of TPM.     

A technique for in situ X-ray computed tomography of deformation-induced cavitation in thermoplastics

Deformation-induced cavitation influences the mechanical response of polymeric materials, but acquiring in situ measurements of the spatial evolution of cavities has typically necessitated the use of synchrotron radiation sources. The objective of this study is to develop and demonstrate a method allowing for in situ measurements of deformation-induced cavitation in axisymmetric polymer specimens, using a home-laboratory X-ray computed tomography setup. The method is demonstrated by assessing deformation-induced cavitation of mineral-filled PVC in a repeated loading-unloading experiment. A temporal resolution of about 3 s is obtained by exploiting the axisymmetry of notched round tensile specimens. The evolution of relative density was captured throughout the experiment, revealing an interplay between void nucleation and void growth. Combined with surface deformation measurements obtained by digital image correlation, the present technique yields data suitable for calibration and validation of material models.     

基于图像的二维剪纸自动生成方法

中国剪纸的设计极具挑战性, 要求画面简洁、直观, 还需要表达特定的文化内涵, 且整张剪纸须整体连通。提出了一种基于图像的二维剪纸自动生成方法, 能够将任意数码照片自动转化为剪纸图形。首先，利用图像分割方法建立区域连接图; 接着, 基于该连接图对颜色、边界对比度和区域连通性进行数学建模, 并获得优化目标函数; 最后, 通过模拟退火算法求解目标方程, 自动生成保持图像内容的剪纸图形。还开发了连通性后处理和区域指定等用户交互工具, 允许用户在自动生成的剪纸图形中方便地加入个人设计。实验表明, 所生成的剪纸图形画面简洁、整体连通。 本方法在降低剪纸设计难度的同时还可满足个性化的设计需求, 有助于传播和传承我国的民间剪纸艺术。     

A new class of conformable spectral observers for signal reconstruction

In this work, the design of spectral observers for signal reconstruction based on Kalman filters is performed and evaluated. The conformable derivative and the beta‐derivative were used to design the Kalman filters. Both derivatives satisfy the same formulas of the classical derivation, eg, the chain rule. The derivative order, the Ricatti equation parameters, and the observers tuning parameters were optimized using an optimization algorithm based on the bat's echolocation behavior (Bat algorithm). The simulation results showed the advantages of using the proposed observers for the signal reconstruction.