Spatial Tracker
Optical tracking of surface patterns allows for the non-contact measurement of deformation and strain across a physical sample. The digital image correlation process compares a reference image of the unstressed surface against a series of snapshots taken during the test. Algorithms identify the movement of high contrast specks to calculate displacement vectors.
Pattern Validity
Successful measurement depends on the density and randomness of the visual texture applied to the target. If the digital image correlation software loses track of a specific feature, the local strain calculation fails and creates a void in the data map. Painting techniques verify that the speckle size matches the pixel resolution of the dual cameras.
Accuracy Calibration
Spatial errors from lens distortion are removed through the use of a grid with known dimensions. A practitioner using digital image correlation must verify that the light source does not heat the specimen and cause false expansion signals. This method provides a full field view rather than the single point measurement of a traditional strain gauge.
Result Boundary
Computational intensity limits the speed of data acquisition for very high frequency vibrations. While digital image correlation handles large deformations with ease, its noise floor prevents it from measuring sub-micron movements in extremely stiff ceramics. The final result is a colorized map of the stress distribution across the entire visible surface.