Accuracy of digital image correlation for measuring deformations in transparent media

Experimental models to measure spatial deformation patterns within a soil mass are typically limited by the fact that soil sensors do not provide a continuous image of the measured continuum. Additionally, soil sensors exhibit static and dynamic characteristics that are different from those of the surrounding soils and therefore can change the response of the measured continuum. The fundamental premise of this research is that transparent synthetic soil surrogates can be used to overcome these difficulties using digital image correlation (DIC). A system consisting of a laser source and a line-generating lens was used to optically slice the transparent synthetic soil models. A digital camera was used to capture images of the slices before and after deformation. This paper presents a new technique for quantifying spatial deformation throughout transparent synthetic soil models using DIC. The accuracy of the DIG technique was evaluated based on a scheme of predefined digital movement of synthetic soil images. Finally, a model consisting of a strip footing on a synthetic transparent soil is presented. The spatial deformations in the model are evaluated using the proposed DIG methodology and compared with the result of finite-element analysis.