Application of Image Analysis Technique in Visualization of Failure During the Testing Of Materials

In experimental investigations, conventional measuring instruments such as dial gauges, linear variable differential transformers, and extensometers are used to measure the displacement at a specific gauge length (i.e., global deformation). They are contact-based instruments which are not able to evaluate the displacements within the gauge length (i.e., localized deformations). The image analysis techniques are able to evaluate the displacements at each point within the gauge length. In the present study, the applicability and effectiveness of the image analysis technique are assessed for four different materials, i.e., concrete, steel, wood, and geomembrane which are widely used in the field of geotechnical engineering as construction material for geo-structures. For this, four different tests, i.e., compression testing of the concrete cube, tensile testing of the steel plate and wooden strip, and wide-width tensile testing of the geomembrane are performed in a systematic manner. The image analysis technique is used to evaluate the displacement fields for each material under given loading conditions. The results obtained from the image analysis technique are compared with those of conventional measuring instruments to emphasize the applicability and effectiveness of the image analysis technique for different materials having different properties.