Deformation measurements by digital image correlation with automatic merging of data distributed in time

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Materials Science
• Metrology

Background:

• Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a key technique for measuring surface deformation.
• Long-term structural monitoring often requires repeated measurements where the setup may change.
• Analyzing 3D displacement data over time presents challenges due to potential shifts in measurement position.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a method for analyzing 3D displacement data from digital image correlation (DIC) over extended durations.
• To enable accurate monitoring of objects or structures where the DIC setup is not fixed between measurements.
• To assess the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed data merging technique for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• A novel data merging procedure was implemented to combine 3D DIC measurements taken over time with varying setup positions.
• The method was tested using both numerical simulations and experimental data under laboratory conditions.
• Accuracy was evaluated, and potential sources of error were identified and discussed.

Main Results:

• The developed method successfully merges 3D DIC data acquired with non-fixed setups.
• Proof-of-concept was demonstrated through numerical models and laboratory experiments.
• The accuracy of the technique was quantified, highlighting key error contributors.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method is feasible for in situ, long-term measurements and monitoring.
• This technique has significant potential for applications in industry and civil engineering for structural health assessment.
• The ability to handle non-fixed setups enhances the versatility of DIC for real-world monitoring tasks.