A Robust Finite Element-based Filter for Digital Image and Volume Correlation Displacement Data

Background Digital Image and Volume Correlation (DIC and DVC) are non-contact measurement techniques that are used during mechanical testing for quantitative mapping of full-field displacements. The relatively high noise floor of DIC and DVC, which is exasperated when differentiated to obtain strain fields, often requires some form of filtering. Techniques such as median filters or least-squares fitting perform poorly over high displacement gradients, such as the strain localisation near a crack tip, discontinuities across crack flanks or large pores. As such, filtering does not always effectively remove outliers in the displacement field. Objective This work proposes a robust finite element-based filter that detects and replaces outliers in the displacement data using a finite element method-based approximation. Methods A method is formulated for surface (2D and Stereo DIC) and volumetric (DVC) measurements. Its validity is demonstrated using analytical and experimental displacement data around cracks, obtained from surface and full volume measurements. Results It is shown that the displacement data can be filtered in such a way that outliers are identified and replaced. Moreover, data can be smoothed whilst maintaining the nature of the underlying displacement field such as steep displacement gradients or discontinuities. Conclusions The method can be used as a post-processing tool for DIC and DVC data and will support the use of the finite element method as an experimental–numerical technique.