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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

High-Speed X-Ray Stereo Digital Image Correlation in a Shock Tube

X-ray stereo digital image correlation (DIC) measurements were performed at 10 kHz on the internal surface of a jointed structure in a shock tube at a shock Mach number of 1.42 and compared with optical stereo DIC measurements on the outer, visible surface of the structure. The shock tube environment introduces temperature and density gradients in the gas through which the structure was imaged, resulting in spatial and temporal index of refraction variations. These variations cause bias errors in optical DIC measurements due to beam-steering but have minimal influence on x-ray DIC measurements. These results demonstrate the utility of time-resolved x-ray DIC measurements in complicated environments where optical measurements suffer severe errors and/or are precluded by lack of optical access.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Digital Image Correlation Engine v.3.0

DICe is an open source digital image correlation (DIC) tool intended for use as a module in an external application or as a standalone analysis code. It's primary capability is computing full-field displacements and strains from sequences of digital These images are typically of a material sample undergoing a materials characterization experiment, but DICe is also useful for other applications (for example, trajectory tracking). DICe is machine portable (Windows, Linux and Mac) and can be effectively deployed on a high performance computing platform. Capabilities from DICe can be invoked through a library interface, via source code integration of DICe classes or through a graphical user interface.

Turner, Dan↗
DOE OSTI2024

Path-Integrated Stereo X-Ray Digital Image Correlation: Resolving the Violation of Conservation of Intensity

In this study, x-ray imaging addresses many challenges with visible light imaging in extreme environments, where optical diagnostics such as digital image correlation (DIC) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) suffer biases from index of refraction changes and/or cannot penetrate visibly occluded objects. However, conservation of intensity—the fundamental principle of optical image correlation algorithms—may be violated if ancillary components in the X-ray path besides the surface or fluid of interest move during the test. The test series treated in this work sought to characterize the safe use of fiber-epoxy composites in aerospace and aviation industries during fire accident scenarios. Stereo X-ray DIC was employed to measure test unit deformation in an extreme thermal environment involving a visibly occluded test unit, incident surface heating to temperatures above 600°C, and flames and soot from combusting epoxy decomposition gasses. The objective of the current work is to evaluate two solutions to resolve the violation of conservation of intensity that resulted from both the test unit and the thermal chamber deforming during the test. The first solution recovered conservation of intensity by pre-processing the path-integrated X-ray images to isolate the DIC pattern of the test unit from the thermal chamber components. These images were then correlated with standard, optical DIC software. The second solution, called Path-Integrated Digital Image Correlation (PI-DIC), modified the fundamental matching criterion of DIC to account for multiple, independently-moving components contributing to the final image intensity. The PI-DIC algorithm was extended from a 2D framework to a stereo framework and implemented in a custom DIC software. Both solutions accurately measured the cylindrical shape of the undeformed test unit, recovering radii values of R = 76.20±0.12 mm compared to the theoretical radius of R theor = 76.20 mm. During the test, the test unit bulged asymmetrically as decomposition gasses pressurized the interior and eventually burned in a localized jet. Both solutions measured the heterogeneous radius of this bulge, which reached a maximum of approximately R = 91 mm, with a discrepancy of 2–3% between the two solutions. Two solutions that resolve the violation of conservation of intensity for path-integrated X-ray images were developed. Both were successfully employed in a stereo X-ray DIC configuration to measure deformation of an aluminum-skinned, fiber-epoxy composite test unit in a fire accident scenario.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Correcting for digital image correlation speckle inversion at high temperature using color cameras

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a popular, noncontacting technique to measure full-field deformation by using cameras to track the motion of an applied surface pattern. Because it is noncontacting, DIC can be performed for extreme temperature applications (e.g., hot-fire rocket testing of carbon composite rocket nozzles) under harsh conditions during which bonded gauges are damaged. Speckle pattern inversion is a phenomenon that sometimes occurs while performing high-temperature DIC. During speckle pattern inversion, portions of the surface pattern that were initially darker at room temperature (e.g., graphite) may emit more light due to blackbody radiation than the portions that were initially paler, thereby producing images in which the pattern appears inverted at high temperature relative to the initial pattern at room temperature. This phenomenon can prevent the correlation algorithm from being able to resolve the displacements between images. This work compares three methods to mitigate speckle pattern inversion: (A) the subtraction method, a recently-published technique in which two high-temperature images are subtracted to remove unwanted light; (B) the filtering method, a popular technique in which optical bandpass filters screen out unwanted light; and (C) the histogram rescaling method, a proposed new method that pairs a color camera with a blue light source and uses information from the green sensor of the camera to correct against inversion in the blue sensor through postprocessing. The histogram rescaling method is shown to successfully eliminate speckle pattern inversion and has the added advantages that it does not require quasi-static loading to be able to compensate for speckle pattern inversion, nor does it impose thick-glass distortions caused by the optical filter.

Rowley, Lindsey J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Enabling Digital Image Correlation for Deployment in the Hot Fuels Examination Facility

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a non-contact image-based technique for displacement and strain measurement. It is also a full-field method that can provide excellent spatial resolution. DIC has been widely used for measurements in many styles of mechanical tests and is desirable in part because of this flexibility to measure nearly any material across a range of time and length scales. Its ability to measure localized strain for tests and in environments not accessible to other strain measurement techniques makes it an ideal option for several mechanical test cases that exist in hot cell facilities such as the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). However, DIC has not been demonstrated at HFEF, and several barriers to implementation in the hot cell environment exist. This report outlines the possible paths for deploying DIC at HFEF, weighing the technical advantages and risks with each path. It also discusses the steps which must be taken to add this capability to the suite of post-irradiation examination (PIE) techniques available at HFEF. Finally, it concludes with recommendations for the best method to perform DIC at the facility.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Super Resolution Digital Image Correlation (SR-DIC): an Alternative to Image Stitching at High Magnifications

Abstract Background High-resolution Digital Image Correlation (DIC) measurements have previously been produced by stitching of neighboring images, which often requires short working distances. Separately, the image processing community has developed super resolution (SR) imaging techniques, which improve resolution by combining multiple overlapping images. Objective This work investigates the novel pairing of super resolution with digital image correlation, as an alternative method to produce high-resolution full-field strain measurements. Methods First, an image reconstruction test is performed, comparing the ability of three previously published SR algorithms to replicate a high-resolution image. Second, an applied translation is compared against DIC measurement using both low- and super-resolution images. Third, a ring sample is mechanically deformed and DIC strain measurements from low- and super-resolution images are compared. Results SR measurements show improvements compared to low-resolution images, although they do not perfectly replicate the high-resolution image. SR-DIC demonstrates reduced error and improved confidence in measuring rigid body translation when compared to low resolution alternatives, and it also shows improvement in spatial resolution for strain measurements of ring deformation. Conclusions Super resolution imaging can be effectively paired with Digital Image Correlation, offering improved spatial resolution, reduced error, and increased measurement confidence.

Hansen, R. S.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Cladding Ring Tension Testing (RTT) of unirradiated cladding materials using Digital Image Correlation (DIC)

Cladding Ring Tension Testing (RTT) of unirradiated cladding materials using Digital Image Correlation (DIC). RTT is an important tool for determining hoop strength of thin-walled tubing, especially in anisotropic materials such as zirconium fuel cladding. The goal is to set up a DIC system to a tensile test on these RTT specimens and study the mechanical properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Measurement of Shear Strain in Impact Ice Using a Modified Lap Joint Test and Digital Image Correlation

The results of ice adhesion testing efforts are typically quantified using the maximum shear stress sustained at the interface before the ice detaches from the underlying substrate. While this singular value can be useful for understanding the role icing wind tunnel conditions and substrate surface properties have on the strength of the ice-substrate interface, it does not capture the mechanical behavior of the ice during an experiment. To better understand the deformation of the ice sample and ice-substrate interface during testing, digital image correlation was applied to the lap-joint shear test methodology utilized at NASA Glenn Research Center. Preparation of the sample surface for digital image correlation, initial parsing of the correlation data, and the time synchronization of data from multiple sources are discussed. Using the directional components of deformation measured via digital image correlation, a novel approach to calculating the interfacial shear strain is presented. Results from analyzing several impact ice samples consistently reveals a non-linear response in the ice during mechanical loading which occurs prior to sample delamination, a behavior not observable in the force and displacement data gathered from the testing apparatus. Both the full and small angle forms of the engineering shear strain are evaluated, with the full shear strain form providing considerably lower noise levels. The transition of sample response from near the interface to the bulk behavior of the ice under shear loading is discussed with results from several samples being presented.

Ice adhesion↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Measurement of Shear Strain in Impact Ice Using a Modified Lap Joint Test and Digital Image Correlation

The results of ice adhesion testing efforts are typically quantified using the maximum shear stress sustained at the interface before the ice detaches from the underlying substrate. While this singular value can be useful for understanding the role icing wind tunnel conditions and substrate surface properties have on the strength of the ice-substrate interface, it does not capture the mechanical behavior of the ice during an experiment. To better understand the deformation of the ice sample and ice-substrate interface during testing, digital image correlation was applied to the lap-joint shear test methodology utilized at NASA Glenn Research Center. Preparation of the sample surface for digital image correlation, initial parsing of the correlation data, and the time synchronization of data from multiple sources are discussed. Using the directional components of deformation measured via digital image correlation, a novel approach to calculating the interfacial shear strain is presented. Results from analyzing several impact ice samples consistently reveals a non-linear response in the ice during mechanical loading which occurs prior to sample delamination, a behavior not observable in the force and displacement data gathered from the testing apparatus. Both the full and small angle forms of the engineering shear strain are evaluated, with the full shear strain form providing considerably lower noise levels. The transition of sample response from near the interface to the bulk behavior of the ice under shear loading is discussed with results from several samples being presented.

: Ice Adhesion, Digital Image Correlation, Experim↗
DOE OSTI2022

High speed ultraviolet digital image correlation (UV-DIC) for dynamic strains at extreme temperatures

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a camera-based method of measuring full-field displacements and strains from the surface of a deforming object. It can be applied at any length scale (determined by the lenses) and any time scale (determined by the camera), and because it is non-contacting, it can also be used at temperatures much higher than can be withstood by bonded strain gauges. At extreme temperatures, materials emit light in the form of blackbody radiation, which can saturate the camera sensor. It has previously been shown that the emitted light can be effectively screened by using ultraviolet (UV) cameras, lenses, and filters; however, commercially available UV cameras are relatively slow, which limits the speed of combined UV-DIC measurements. In this study, a UV intensifier was paired with a high-speed camera, and its ability to perform UV-DIC at high temperature and high speed was investigated. The system was compared over three different experiments: (A) a quasi-static thermal expansion test at high temperature, (B) a vibration test at room temperature, and (C) the same vibration test repeated at high temperature. The system successfully performed DIC up to at least 1600 °C at frame rates of 5000 fps, which is more than 100 times faster than other examples of UV-DIC in the literature. In all cases, measurements made using the UV intensifier were much noisier than those made without the intensifier, but the intensifier enabled measurements at temperatures well above those which an unfiltered high-speed camera otherwise saturates.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Understanding the Elastic, Plastic, and Damage Features in Fracturing of Self-reinforced Thermoplastic Composites via Non-destructive Digital Imaging Correlation

This work demonstrated the utilization of non-destructive Digital Imaging Correlation (DIC) method to characterize the elastic, plastic, and damage features during the Mode I intra-laminar fracturing process of self-reinforced thermoplastic composites by using a self-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composite as an example. The DIC results clearly showed the development of huge plastic zone (PZ) and non-negligible Fracture Process Zone (FPZ) in front of the notch tip during the fracturing process, and the geometries and sizes of the foregoing zones at the peak load were further quantified. Such an interesting fracturing behavior of self-reinforced thermoplastic composites is way different from brittle materials (e.g., glass, acrylic, etc.), ductile materials (e.g., aluminum, steel, etc.), and even quasi-brittle materials (e.g., concrete, nanoparticle-reinforced composites, tough ceramics, wood, cement, carbon/glass fiber-reinforced polymers, etc.). Thus, understanding the elastic, plastic, and damage features is the first step before better characterizing the material fracture properties of self-reinforced thermoplastic composites through new analytical methods and computational modeling. These efforts are of utmost importance for wide applications of self-reinforced thermoplastic composites in various engineering fields in the future.

Lightweight Composites, Self-reinforced Thermoplas↗
DOE OSTI2025

Review of High‐Speed Digital Image Correlation: Advancements and Good Practices

This paper reviews the current state of the art in high‐speed (HS) and ultrahigh‐speed (UHS) digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, emphasizing their critical role in experimental research across various scientific domains. HS and UHS DIC have evolved significantly, driven by advancements in camera systems, image processing algorithms and experimental methodologies. These developments have opened new avenues for capturing and analysing dynamic events with unprecedented temporal and spatial detail, but not without introducing challenges such as optical distortions, motion blur and lighting issues that can affect measurement quality. This review advocates for standardized reporting practices in HS/UHS DIC methodologies to improve reproducibility and reliability across studies, drawing on guidelines from the International Digital Image Correlation Society (iDICs). Through a comprehensive analysis of over 150 articles, this review identifies key advancements in imaging technology and their application in six research domains: material characterization, test development, fracture mechanics, model validation, ballistic and explosive phenomena assessment and measurement uncertainties. Distinctions between two‐dimensional (2D) and stereo‐DIC applications are explored, offering insights into their practical implementation and trade‐offs. Good practices for HS/UHS DIC applications are proposed along with suggestions for future directions for this evolving field, highlighting the indispensable role of technological innovation in expanding the capabilities of optical metrology.

experimental mechanics↗
DOE OSTI2023

A flexible polymer-based luminescent ink for combined thermographic phosphors and digital image correlation (TP+DIC)

Recent work on the development of integrated thermographic phosphors and digital image correlation (TP+DIC) for combined thermal–mechanical measurements has revealed the need for a flexible, stretchable phosphor coating for metal surfaces. Herein, we coat stainless steel substrates with a polymer-based phosphor ink in a DIC speckle pattern and demonstrate that the ink remains well bonded under substrate deformation. In contrast, a binderless phosphor DIC coating produced via aerosol deposition (AD) partially debonded from the substrate. DIC calculations reveal that the strain on the ink coating matches the strain on the substrate within 4% error at the highest substrate loads (0.05 mm/mm applied substrate strain), while the strain on the AD coating remains near 0 mm/mm as the substrate deforms. Spectrally resolved emission from the phosphor is measured through the transparent binder throughout testing, and the ratio method is used to infer temperature with an uncertainty of 1.7 °C. In conclusion, this phosphor ink coating will allow for accurate, non-contact strain and temperature measurements of a deforming surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Direct measurements of slip irreversibility in a nickel-based superalloy using high resolution digital image correlation

Fatigue crack nucleation in crystalline materials typically develops due to highly localized cyclic slip. During a fatigue cycle, reverse slip differs locally from slip in the forward direction particularly in precipitate-containing materials such as superalloys. In this paper we report the first direct measurements of irreversibility at the scale of individual slip bands by high-resolution digital image correlation (DIC) in a polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy. Quantitative measurements of the slip irreversibility are challenging for regions of material that have a size that captures the microstructure and its variability. High spatial resolution at the nanometer scale during experimental measurements is needed to observe slip localization during deformation. Moreover, large fields are also needed to obtain the material response over statistically representative populations of microstructural configurations. Recently, high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) digital image correlation (DIC) has been extended for quantitative analysis of discontinuities induced by slip events using the Heaviside-DIC method. Therefore, this novel method provides quantitative measurements of slip localization at the specimen surface. In this paper, the Heaviside-DIC method is used to measure slip irreversibility and plastic strain accumulation in a nickel-based superalloy. The method detects bands with high levels of irreversibility early in cycling that ultimately form fatigue cracks upon further cycling. The local microstructural configurations that induce large amounts of plasticity and slip irreversibility are correlated to crack nucleation locations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Fiber Orientation Evaluation in Reinforced Composites using Digital Image Correlation

This paper presents an innovative nondestructive evaluation (NDE) approach to evaluate fiber orientation in fiber reinforced composites utilizing digital image correlation (DIC). Fiber orientation is a crucial factor that influences the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite. Conventional methods for fiber orientation evaluation and measurement are either destructive, which are typically laborious. NDE methods such as micro computed tomography are expensive and limited in sample size. In this work, we evaluate two methods of excitation of the composite, namely-quasistatic mechanical loading and thermal cycling. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has been employed in conjunction for fiber orientation measurements. The DIC system is able to measure the fiber orientation by capturing 19x higher strain in the transverse direction of the reinforced fiber axis during excitation. The larger strain occurs in the transverse direction due to larger elongation in the surrounding polymer matrix than the fiber which resists elongation. This innovative method is within the preliminary stage and has been developed to fill the gap/limitations of other NDE methods.

Spencer, Ryan↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of Photovoltaic Module Deformation Dynamics During Hail Impact Using Digital Image Correlation

Stereo high-speed video of photovoltaic modules undergoing laboratory hail tests was processed using digital image correlation to determine module surface deformation during and immediately following impact. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate a methodology for characterizing module impact response differences as a function of construction and incident hail parameters. Video capture and digital image analysis were able to capture out-of-plane module deformation to a resolution of ±0.1 mm at 11 kHz on an in-plane grid of 10 × 10 mm over the area of a 1 × 2 m commercial photovoltaic module. With lighting and optical adjustments, the technique was adaptable to arbitrary module designs, including size, backsheet color, and cell interconnection. Furthermore, impacts were observed to produce an initially localized dimple in the glass surface, with peak deflection proportional to the square root of incident energy. Subsequent deformation propagation and dissipation were also captured, along with behavior for instances when the module glass fractured. Natural frequencies of the module were identifiable by analyzing module oscillations postimpact. Limitations of the measurement technique were that the impacting ice ball obscured the data field immediately surrounding the point of contact, and both ice and glass fracture events occurred within 100 μs, which was not resolvable at the chosen frame rate. Increasing the frame rate and visualizing the back surface of the impact could be applied to avoid these issues. Applications for these data include validating computational models for hail impacts, identifying the natural frequencies of a module, and identifying damage initiation mechanisms.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

A Novel Class of Strain Measures for Digital Image Correlation

Abstract We propose a novel class strain measures for use with digital image correlation (DIC). Whereas the traditional notion of compatibility (strain as the derivative of the displacement field) is problematic when the displacement field varies substantially because of either measurement noise or material irregularity, the proposed measure remains robust, well defined and invariant under rigid body motion. Moreover, when the displacement field is smooth, the classical and proposed strain measures are approximations of each other. We demonstrate, via several numerical examples, the potential of this new strain measure for problems with steep gradients. We also show how the non‐local strain provides an intrinsic mechanism for filtering high‐frequency content from the strain profile and so has a high signal to noise ratio. This is a convenient feature considering image noise and its impact on strain calculations.

Lehoucq, R. B.↗