Measuring crack depth via normalized deformation profiles from digital image correlation based on optimum correlation

This paper proposes a novel method to quantify the crack depth through the normalized deformation profiles measured by digital image correlation (DIC). This study determines the crack depth through an optimum correlation between the DIC extracted deformation profile and numerical dataset for different crack sizes, and demonstrates the robustness of the approach by parametric investigations. The experimental tests of SE(B) and M(T) specimens demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method in quantifying crack depths with single and dual crack fronts. The proposed DIC method does not require measurement of load or compliance and is thus a convenient and robust approach to measure the crack depth.