Fractal Pattern for Multiscale Digital Image Correlation

Background:

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is based on the matching, between reference and deformed state images, of features contained in patterns that are deposited on test sample surfaces. These features are often suitable for a single scale, and there is a current lack of multiscale patterns capable of providing reliable displacement measurements over a wide range of scales.

Objective:

Here, we aim to demonstrate that a pattern based on a fractal (self-affine) surface would make a suitable pattern for multiscale DIC.

Methods:

A method to numerically generate patterns directly from a desired auto-correlation function is introduced. It is then enhanced by a Mean Intensity Gradient (MIG) improvement process based on grey level redistribution. Numerical experiments at multiple scales are performed for two different imposed displacement fields and results for one of the patterns generated are compared with those obtained for a random pattern and a Perlin noise one.

Results:

The proposed pattern is shown to lead to DIC errors comparable to those found with the two others for the first scales, but has much greater robustness. More importantly, the pattern generated here exhibits stable errors and robustness with respect to the scale whereas these two outputs become significantly degraded for the other two patterns as the scale increases.

Conclusions:

As a result, scale invariance properties of the pattern based on fractal surfaces correspond to scale invariance in DIC errors as well. This is of great interest regarding the use of such patterns in multiscale DIC.

     

Modal Analysis Using a Virtual Speckle Pattern Based Digital Image Correlation Method: An Application for an Artificial Flapping Wing

Experimental Mechanics - A conventional three-dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) based on painted speckle patterns has been used widely as a non-contact measurement method to study modal...     

Dynamic Subsurface Deformation and Strain of Soft Hydrogel Interfaces Using an Embedded Speckle Pattern With 2D Digital Image Correlation

Background

Subsurface mechanisms can greatly affect the mechanical behavior of biological materials, but observation of these mechanisms has remained elusive primarily due to unfavorable optical characteristics. Researchers attempt to overcome these limitations by performing experiments in biological mimics like hydrogels, but measurements are generally restricted due to the spatio-temporal limitations of current methods.

Objective

Utilization of contemporary 3D printing techniques into soft, transparent, aqueous yield-stress materials have opened new avenues of approach to overcoming these roadblocks. By incorporating digital image correlation with such 3D printing techniques, a method is shown here that can acquire full-field deformation of a hydrogel subsurface in real-time.

Methods

Briefly, the method replaces the solvent of a transparent and low polymer concentration yield-stress material with an aqueous hydrogel precursor solution, then a DIC speckle plane is 3D printed into it. This complex is then polymerized using photoinitiation thereby locking the speckle plane in place.

Results

Full-field deformation measurements are made in real-time as the embedded speckle plane (ESP) responds with the bulk to the applied load. Example results of deformation and strain fields associated with indentation, relaxation, and sliding contact experiments are shown.

Conclusions

This method has successfully observed the subsurface mechanical response in the bulk of a hydrogel and has the potential to answer fundamental questions regarding biological material mechanical behaviors.

     

A q-Factor-Based Digital Image Correlation Algorithm (qDIC) for Resolving Finite Deformations with Degenerate Speckle Patterns

Digital image correlation (DIC) has become a widely utilized non-contact, full-field displacement measurement technique for obtaining accurate material kinematics. Despite the significant advances made to date, high resolution reconstruction of finite deformations for images with intrinsically low quality speckle patterns or poor signal-to-noise content has not been fully addressed. In particular, large image distortions imposed by materials undergoing finite deformations create significant challenges for most classical DIC approaches. To address this issue, this paper describes a new open source DIC algorithm (qDIC) that incorporates cross-correlation quality factors (q-factors), which are specifically designed to assess the quality of the reconstructed displacement estimate during the motion reconstruction process. A q-factor provides a robust assessment of the uniqueness and sharpness of the cross-correlation peak, and thus a quantitative estimate of the subset-based displacement measure per given image subset and level of applied deformation. We show that the incorporation of energy- and entropy-based q-factor metrics leads to substantially improved displacement predictions, lower noise floor, and reduced decorrelation even at significant levels of image distortion or poor speckle quality. Furthermore, we show that q-factors can be utilized as a quantitative metric for constructing a hybrid incremental-cumulative displacement correlation scheme for accurately resolving very large homogeneous and inhomogeneous deformations, even in the presence of significant image data loss.     

Embedded Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry for Three-dimensional Strain Analysis

The extension of Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry to three-dimensional cases poses new challenges from both the practical and the theoretical points of view. In the present research, a scattering surface was created within a transparent Plexiglas specimen with the aid of atomized aluminum particles, and strain was measured in the interior plane. Test specimen configurations included a beam in bending and a disc in diametral compression. The tests on the beam in bending showed excellent agreement between Embedded DSPI results and resistance strain gages. However, for the disc in compression, large discrepancies were found. The main source of errors was identified in the effect of the refractive index gradient. Based on the assumption that the index of refraction changes proportionally to the local dilatation, the error was calculated and the predicted results were ultimately in good agreement with the DSPI data. In conclusion, the Embedded DSPI technique was found to be a viable tool for direct experimental strain investigation of complex 3-D cases.     

Assessment of Digital Image Correlation Measurement Errors: Methodology and Results

Optical full-field measurement methods such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) are increasingly used in the field of experimental mechanics, but they still suffer from a lack of information about their metrological performances. To assess the performance of DIC techniques and give some practical rules for users, a collaborative work has been carried out by the Workgroup “Metrology” of the French CNRS research network 2519 “MCIMS (Mesures de Champs et Identification en Mécanique des Solides / Full-field measurement and identification in solid mechanics, http://www.ifma.fr/lami/gdr2519)”. A methodology is proposed to assess the metrological performances of the image processing algorithms that constitute their main component, the knowledge of which being required for a global assessment of the whole measurement system. The study is based on displacement error assessment from synthetic speckle images. Series of synthetic reference and deformed images with random patterns have been generated, assuming a sinusoidal displacement field with various frequencies and amplitudes. Displacements are evaluated by several DIC packages based on various formulations and used in the French community. Evaluated displacements are compared with the exact imposed values and errors are statistically analyzed. Results show general trends rather independent of the implementations but strongly correlated with the assumptions of the underlying algorithms. Various error regimes are identified, for which the dependence of the uncertainty with the parameters of the algorithms, such as subset size, gray level interpolation or shape functions, is discussed.     

用数字散斑相关法研究聚氨酯泡沫塑料的压缩力学性能

提出了一种改进的数字散班相关计算方法，使其能直接进行应变迭代，灵敏度可达１０００με，并对它进行了验证试验。对于两种不同密度的聚氨酯泡沫塑料，采用改进的数字散斑相关法对其压缩力学性能进行了测试，得到了其应力——应变关系及弹性模量等力学参数。     

Static and Modal Analysis of Low Porosity Thin Metallic Auxetic Structures Using Speckle Interferometry and Digital Image Correlation

This study presents an evaluation of the static and dynamic mechanical behavior of low porosity, ductile two-dimensional auxetic metamaterials. The full in-plane displacement fields and the eigenmodes of different geometric structures were investigated and compared with finite element simulations using speckle interferometry and digital image correlation. The results showed strong agreement, validating the theoretical approach used and establishing a method for testing and quantitatively assessing the performance of negative Poisson ratio structures, and metamaterials in general, for different purposes and fields. The findings of this study also increase our knowledge of elastic instabilities in metallic auxetic structures, with further applications in several engineering fields that can benefit from combining the qualities of ductile materials with additional features typical of these smart structures.     

Rapid and Repeatable Fluorescent Speckle Pattern Fabrication Using a Handheld Inkjet Printer

Experimental Mechanics - Compared with regular speckle patterns formed by reflecting the illumination light, fluorescent speckle patterns generated by the emitted light of fluorescent particles...     

Cross Polarization for Improved Digital Image Correlation

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a surface deformation measurement technique for which accuracy and precision are sensitive to image quality. This work presents cross polarization, the use of orthogonal linear polarizers on light source(s) and camera(s), as an effective method for improving optical DIC measurements. The benefits of cross polarization are characterized through quantitative and statistical comparisons from two experiments: rigid body translation of a flat sample and uniaxial tension of a superelastic shape-memory alloy (SMA). In both experiments, cross polarization eliminated saturated pixels that degrade DIC measurements, and increased image contrast, which enabled higher spatial precision by using smaller subsets. Subset sizes are usually optimized for correlation confidence interval (typically with subsets of 21×21 px or larger), but can be decreased to achieve the highest possible spatial precision at the expense of increased correlation confidence intervals. Smaller subset sizes (such as 9×9 px) require better images to maintain correlation within error thresholds. By comparing DIC results from a uniaxial SMA tension test with unpolarized and cross-polarized images, we show that for 9×9 px subsets, the loss of valid DIC data points was reduced almost ten-fold with cross polarization. The only disadvantage we see to cross polarization is the decrease in specimen illumination due to transmission losses through the polarizers, which can easily be accommodated with sufficiently intense light sources. With the installation of relatively inexpensive linear polarizing filters, an optimum optical DIC setup can provide even better DIC measurements by delivering images without saturated pixels and with higher contrast for increased DIC spatial precision.     

Diffraction Assisted Image Correlation: A Novel Method for Measuring Three-Dimensional Deformation using Two-Dimensional Digital Image Correlation

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) provides a full-field non-contact optical method for accurate deformation measurement of materials, devices and structures. The measurement of three-dimensional (3D) deformation using DIC in general requires imaging with two cameras and a 3D-DIC code. In the present work, a new experimental technique, namely, Diffraction Assisted Image Correlation (DAIC) for 3D displacement measurement using a single camera and 2D-DIC algorithm is presented. A transmission diffraction grating is placed between the specimen and the camera, resulting in multiple images which are then used to obtain apparent in-plane displacements using 2D-DIC. The true in-plane and out-of-plane displacements of the specimen are obtained from the apparent in-plane displacements and the diffraction angle of the grating. The validity and accuracy of the DAIC method are demonstrated through 3D displacement measurement of a small thin membrane. This technique provides new avenues for performing 3D deformation measurements at small length scales and/or dynamic loading conditions.     

Digital Image Correlation and Color Cameras

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a well-known experimental technique. It works by constructing a (surjective) mapping of pixel intensity from reference to target image, where the mapping parameters are identified using a Least Squares approach. Because it makes use of the luminance component of the image, Digital Image Correlation is usually implemented by assuming monochrome cameras. In this work, we will discuss its implementation when color cameras are used, focusing on pitfalls and potential advantages of this solution. Since most cameras implement color acquisition using a Color Filter Array (CFA), much of the article will focus on this technology. However, we will not limit ourselves to this aspect and will show that Three-CCD cameras can provide significant advantages over both CFA and monochrome cameras.     

Combining Image Compression with Digital Image Correlation

Experimental Mechanics - Digital image correlation (DIC) is a powerful experimental technique to determine displacement and strain fields. DIC methods usually require a large number of high...     

Augmented Lagrangian Digital Image Correlation

Experimental Mechanics - Digital image correlation (DIC) is a powerful experimental technique for measuring full-field displacement and strain. The basic idea of the method is to compare images of...     

Vibration Analysis of Perforated Plates Using Time-Average Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry

Digital Speckle Interferometry is a non invasive full-field coherent optical technique used in mechanical vibration measurement. In this research, it is used for tuning resonant frequencies of vibrating plates in order to investigate the dynamical behavior of perforated plates. The plate was excited to resonant vibration by a sinusoidal acoustic source. Fringe pattern produced during the time-average recording of the vibrating plate, for several resonant frequencies were registered. Results of plates fixed at one edge having internal holes and attached masses are presented. Experimental natural frequencies and modal shapes are compared to those obtained by an analytical approximate solution based on the Rayleigh–Ritz method with the use of orthogonal polynomials as coordinate function. A high degree of correlation between computational analysis and experimental results was observed, proving the potentiality of the optical technique as experimental validation of the numerical simulations.     

Effect of Fragile Speckle Patterns on Accuracy of Digital Volume Correlation

Experimental Mechanics - Due to challenges in generating high-quality 3D speckle patterns for Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) strain measurements, DVC experiments often utilize the intrinsic...     

A Robust Finite Element-based Filter for Digital Image and Volume Correlation Displacement Data

Background

Digital Image and Volume Correlation (DIC and DVC) are non-contact measurement techniques that are used during mechanical testing for quantitative mapping of full-field displacements. The relatively high noise floor of DIC and DVC, which is exasperated when differentiated to obtain strain fields, often requires some form of filtering. Techniques such as median filters or least-squares fitting perform poorly over high displacement gradients, such as the strain localisation near a crack tip, discontinuities across crack flanks or large pores. As such, filtering does not always effectively remove outliers in the displacement field.

Objective

This work proposes a robust finite element-based filter that detects and replaces outliers in the displacement data using a finite element method-based approximation.

Methods

A method is formulated for surface (2D and Stereo DIC) and volumetric (DVC) measurements. Its validity is demonstrated using analytical and experimental displacement data around cracks, obtained from surface and full volume measurements.

Results

It is shown that the displacement data can be filtered in such a way that outliers are identified and replaced. Moreover, data can be smoothed whilst maintaining the nature of the underlying displacement field such as steep displacement gradients or discontinuities.

Conclusions

The method can be used as a post-processing tool for DIC and DVC data and will support the use of the finite element method as an experimental–numerical technique.

     

Recent Progress in Digital Image Correlation

In this paper, we report the following important progress recently made in the basic theory and practical implementation of digital image correlation (DIC) for deformation measurement. First, we answer a basic but confusing question to the users of DIC: what is a good speckle pattern for DIC? We present a simple, easy-to-compute yet effective global parameter, called mean intensity gradient, for quality assessment of the entire speckle pattern. Second, we provide an overview of various correlation criteria used in DIC for evaluating the similarity of the reference and deformed subsets, and demonstrate the equivalence of three robust and most widely used correlation criteria, i.e., a zero-mean normalized cross-correlation (ZNCC) criterion, a zero-mean normalized sum of squared difference (ZNSSD) criterion and a parametric zero-mean normalized sum of squared difference (PSSD_ab) criterion with two additional unknown parameters, which elegantly unifies these correlation criteria for subset-based pattern matching. Third, we describe an iterative least squares (ILS) algorithm for accurate subpixel motion detection, which is proved to be equivalent to the existing Newton–Raphson algorithm, but the principle and implementation of ILS algorithm is more straightforward and easier. Finally, to overcome the two limitations of existing subset-based DIC technique, we introduce a robust and generally applicable reliability-guided DIC technique, in which the calculation path is guided by the ZNCC coefficients of computed points, to determine the genuine full-field deformation of an object with complex shape.