Applications of Digital Correlation Method to Structure Inspection

In structure inspections, applications of optical techniques are rare, but the advantages of a noncontact, full field technique using a simple apparatus are attractive. The main requirements for structure inspection are the full-field strain measurement with the required precision and on-site measurement ability. The digital correlation method （DCM）, a new optical deformation measurement tool, can satisfy all of the requirements for structure inspection. A smoothing algorithm which can greatly improve the strain measurement precision, and a 3-D DCM have been developed in this paper. For verifying this improvement, a comparison of strain measurements by computer-simulated speckle images has been carried out. Additionally, three structure inspection examples that cover typical materials and structure styles are presented： the interface shear stress distribution for reinforced concrete piles bedded on rock, the 3-D strain distribution of a composite vessel structure, and stresses in a hookup that connects two steel bridge structures. All the examples show that the new structural inspection tool is exemplary and illustrates the obvious advantages of this optical non-destructive technique.

DIGITAL SPECKLE CORRELATION METHOD IMPROVED BY GENETIC ALGORITHM

The digital speckle correlation method is an important optical metrology for sur- face displacement and strain measurement.With this technique,the whole field deformation in- formation can be obtained by tracking the geometric points on the speckle images based on a correlation-matching search technique.However,general search techniques suffer from great com- putational complexity in the processing of speckle images with large deformation and the large random errors in the processing of images of bad quality.In this paper,an advanced approach based on genetic algorithms (GA) for correlation-matching search is developed.Benefiting from the abilities of global optimum and parallelism searching of GA,this new approach can complete the correlation-matching search with less computational consumption and at high accuracy.Two experimental results from the simulated speckle images have proved the efficiency of the new approach.

Deformation Field around the Stress Induced Crack Area in Sandstone by the Digital Speckle Correlation Method

The deformation field around sub-cracks was calculated using the digital speckle correlation method. First, the uni-axial compression tests on sandstone samples containing a pre- fabricated fracture were made. Photomicrographs showing the characteristics of the sub-crack development were taken using a scanning electron microscope （SEM）. From these photomicrographs, the real-time images showing the initiation, growth and coalescence of sub-cracks and micro-cracks in the sandstone specimens were obtained and the effects of loading level as well as grain boundaries on the development of cracks were analyzed. Second, the intensity images of the sandstone specimen surface were captured from the observations of the SEM corresponding to different loading levels. Then correlation computation was carried out for the sequential pairs of intensity images to evaluate the displacement components, as well as the strain field. The results show that the deformation varies in different areas separated by sub-cracks during rock damage processes.

Experimental investigation of interface curing stresses between PMMA and composite using digital speckle correlation method

This paper studies the interface curing stresses between polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and composite by means of digital speckle correlation method (DSCM).A new method by combining DSCM with the marker points is developed to measure the interface curing stresses,and the measurement principle is introduced.The interface curing stresses between PMMA and composite with different curing bonding conditions are measured and analyzed,this indicates that the residual stress for furnace heating and furnace cooling is the smallest.Finally,the measurement error is discussed by means of finite element method,the influences of glass microsphere between adhesive and PMMA can be ignored.

Tensile strength of sea ice using splitting tests based on the digital image correlation method

The splitting test is a competitive alternative method to study the tensile strength of sea ice owing to its suitability for sampling.However,the approach was questioned to the neglect of local plastic deformation during the tests.In this study,splitting tests were performed on sea ice,with 32 samples subjected to the regular procedure and 8 samples subjected to the digital image correlation method.The salinity,density,and temperature were measured to determine the total porosity.With the advantage of the digital image correlation method,the full-field deformation of the ice samples could be determined.In the loading direction,the samples mainly deformed at the ice-platen contact area.In the direction vertical to the loading,deformation appears along the central line where the splitting crack occurs.Based on the distribution of the sample deformation,a modified solution was derived to calculate the tensile strength with the maximum load.Based on the modified solution,the tensile strength was further calculated together with the splitting test results.The results show that the tensile strength has a negative correlation with the total porosity,which agrees with previous studies based on uniaxial tension tests.

New method for measuring high field electrostrictive response of barium titanate/polyurethane elastomer

A new method for measuring the characteristic of electrostriction by a digital speckle correlation method （DSCM） is presented. The in-plane displacement is obtained by using the DSCM, and the out-plane displacement is obtained by the geometrical relation of the triangle theory. In this application, high field electrostrictive strains of barium titanate/polyurethane elastomer composite materials are measured. The electrostrictive strain is evaluated when the application of an electric field is repeated, and then the electrostrictive coefficient of the sample is obtained. To improve the measuring accuracy, the bilinear interpolation of gray value is used to obtain the sub-pixel gray value. The results are compared with those obtained from the surface fitting algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that the electrostrictive response of polyurethane increases with the introduction of barium titanate into polyurethane. And by using the DSCM, the measurement of the characteristic of electrostriction can be done quickly and accurately. The DSCM provides an effective tool for the evaluation of electrostrictive response.

Failure characteristics and the damage evolution of a composite bearing structure in pillar-side cemented paste backfilling

A backfilling body-coal pillar-backfilling body(BPB)structure formed by pillar-side cemented paste backfilling can bear overburden stress and ensure safe mining.However,the failure response of BPB composite samples must be investigated.This paper examines the deformation characteristics and damage evolution of six types of BPB composite samples using a digital speckle correlation method under uniaxial compression conditions.A new damage evolution equation was established on the basis of the input strain energy and dissipated strain energy at the peak stress.The prevention and control mechanisms of the backfilling body on the coal pillar instability were discussed.The results show that the deformation localization and macroscopic cracks of the BPB composite samples first appeared at the coal-backfilling interface,and then expanded to the backfilling elements,ultimately appearing in the coal elements.The elastic strain energy in the BPB composite samples reached a maximum at the peak stress,whereas the dissipated energy continued to accumulate and increase.The damage evolution curve and equation agree well with the test results,providing further understanding of instability prevention and the control mechanisms of the BPB composite samples.The restraining effect on the coal pillar was gradually reduced with decreasing backfilling body element's volume ratio,and the BPB composite structure became more vulnerable to failure.This research is expected to guide the design,stability monitoring,instability prevention,and control of BPB structures in pillar-side cemented paste backfilling mining.

The improved genetic algorithms for digital image correlation method

We present a global optimization method, called the genetic algorithms (GAs), for digital image/speckle correlation (DISC). The new algorithms do not involve reasonable initial guess of displacement and deformation gradient and the calculation of second-order spatial derivatives of the digital images, which are important challenges in practical implementation of DISC. The performance of a GA depends largely on the selection of the genetic operators. We test various operators and propose optimal operators. The algorithms are then verified using simulated images and experimental speckle images.

Controlling roof with potential rock burst risk through different pre-crack length:Mechanism and effect research

Roof pre-splitting is an effective method to control the roof with potential rock burst risk.In this study,three-point bending tests were carried out by using fine sandstone specimens with different pre-cracked lengths as test objects,and digital speckle correlation method(DSCM)and acoustic emission(AE)technology were used to track the entire process of crack propagation.The effect of pre-cracks on the fracture of rock beams was evaluated,and the mechanical mechanism of the rock beam fracture process was analyzed.The rock beam pre-splitting design method was developed,and the application effect of the method was proved by the microseismic monitoring data obtained from the 10303 working face of Jining No.2 coal mine in China.The results show that the loading time history curve of pre-cracked beams exhibits obvious residual characteristics.Compared with the intact rock beam,the tensile strength,and maximum tensile strain of 35 mm pre-cracked rock beam are decreased by 32.4% and 33.1%,respectively and the acoustic emission b value is increased by 30.2%.According to the pre-splitting design method of rock beam,the maximum and average microseismic energy of the 10303 working face after pre-splitting construction are reduced by 25.6% and 6.4%,respectively,with excellent prevention and control effect of thick roof.

Structural motion of water-resisting key strata lying on overburden

Water-preserved mining is one of the important parts of the ‘Green Mining’ technological system. The purpose of wa-ter-preserved mining is to prevent water from bursting out in coal mines and thus to protect water resources. The principle of wa-ter-resisting key strata (WKS) is proposed to establish a model capable of guiding and developing water-preserved mining technol-ogy. The experimental model of the WKS is constructed following requirements of the Data Image Correlative Method (DICM). Five experimental schemes are designed according to different combined patterns of the WKS. The water-resisting performance of the WKS is analyzed from observation of structural stability. All of them provide referential value for water-preserved mining.

Analyis on the indirect tension displacement and strain field of asphalt mixture based on ABAQUS and DICM

In order to study the damage mechanism of asphalt mixture,it is important to obtain the distribution of displacement and strain of its sample in the indirect tension mode.As a result,the digital image correlation method (DICM) was used to evaluate the displacement field and strain field of asphalt mixture.The results showed that the displacement fields under DICM and ABAQUS are similarly;the strain fields are different due to the different modulus of mastic and aggregate;and DICM is an practical method to study the indirect tension displacement and stain.

Deformation measurements of three types of Portevin-Le Chatelier bands

In this paper a technique based on high-speed digital photography and the digital speckle correlation （DSC） method is used for the quantitative measurement of the displacement and strain fields of various Portevin Le Chatelier （PLC） bands （types A, B, and C）. The experimental results clearly show the nucleation process of a type-B band and the propagation of a type-A band. The results also reveal that there exists an elastic shrinkage deformation outside a PLC band during a large avalanche-like deformation inside the PLC band.

Evolution of the deformation field and earthquake fracture precursors of strike-slip faults

Seismic hazard analysis is gaining increased attention in the present era because of the catastrophic effects of earthquakes.Scientists always have as a goal to develop new techniques that will help forecast earthquakes before their reoccurrence. In this research,we have performed a shear failure experiment on rock samples with prefabricated cracks to simulate the process of plate movement that forms strike-slip faults. We studied the evolution law of the deformation field to simulate the shear failure experiment, and these results gave us a comprehensive understanding of the elaborate strain distribution law and its formation process with which to identify actual fault zones. We performed uniaxial compression tests on marble slabs with prefabricated double shear cracks to study the distribution and evolution of the deformation field during shear failure. Analysis of the strain field at different loading stages showed that with an increase in the load, the shear strain field initially changed to a disordered-style distribution. Further, the strain field was partially concentrated and finally completely concentrated near the crack and then distributed in the shape of a strip along the crack. We also computed coefficients of variation(CVs) for the physical quantities u, v, and exy, which varied with the load. The CV curves were found to correspond to the different loading stages. We found that at the uniform deformation stage, the CV value was small and changed slowly,whereas at the later nonuniform deformation stage, the CV value increased sharply and changed abruptly. Therefore, the precursor to a rock sample breakdown can be predicted by observing the variation characteristics of CV statistics. The correlation we found between our experimental and theoretical results revealed that our crack evolution and sample deformation results showed good coupling with seismic distribution characteristics near the San Andreas Fault.

Deformation tests and failure process analysis of an anchorage structure

In order to study the failure process of an anchorage structure and the evolution law of the body＇s defor- mation field, anchor push-out tests were carried out based on digital speckle correlation methods （DSCM）. The stress distribution of the anchorage interface was investigated using the particle flow numerical simulation method. The results indicate that there are three stages in the deformation and fail- ure process of an anchorage structure： elastic bonding stage, a de-bonding stage and a failure stage. The stress distribution in the interface controls the stability of the structure. In the elastic bonding stage, the shear stress peak point of the interface is close to the loading end, and the displacement field gradually develops into a ＂V＂ shape, in the de-bonding stage, there is a shear stress plateau in the center of the anchorage section, and shear strain localization begins to form in the deformation field. In the failure stage, the bonding of the interface fails rapidly and the shear stress peak point moves to the anchorage free end. The anchorage structure moves integrally along the macro-cracl~ The de-bonding stage is a research focus in the deformation and failure process of an anchorage structure, and plays an important guiding role in roadway support design and prediction of the stability of the surrounding rock.

Residual stress determination in friction stir butt welded joints using a digital image correlation-aided slitting technique

This paper presents an incremental cutting method for evaluating the longitudinal residual stresses in a butt welded thin plate via combining the traditional residual stress measurement methods and the advanced optical technique.The proposed approach,which can be called digital image correlation（DIC）-aided slitting technique,introduces a successive extension slot to a specimen and employs the DIC technique to measure the released displacement profiles of the cutting sections after each cutting increment.Then the displacement profiles are used to directly calculate the residual stress distributions up to the slot tip and hence,a stress distribution can be obtained after a cutting increment.Finally,all of the stress distributions are averaged to ultimately determine the original residual stress field.This method does not include any complex experimental operations or tedious derivation,and the resolution of stress variation is greatly improved by the continuous measurement of the released displacements.The presented method has been preliminarily verified by a specimen with residual stress introduced by a four-point bending test.The results show that residual stresses determined by the DIC-aided slitting technique agree well with those from finite element（FE） prediction.The residual stress in a friction stir welded aluminum specimen obtained by the presented technique is also consistent with the evaluations given by X-ray diffraction.Furthermore,the residual stresses obtained by the DIC-aided slitting technique demonstrate higher accuracy and stability than the evaluations derived by the DIC-aided contour method.