Investigation of fracture mechanical properties of materials using digital image correlation

Extracted data from a tensile test applied on a compact tension specimen are not sufficient to have an accurate statement about fracture mechanical properties of materials. Verification of these data using finite element analysis cannot be directly validated on the crack tip due to its singularity and material nonhomogeneity. This paper presents implementation of digital image correlation (DIC) algorithms to fill this deficiency. A brittle material is chosen as the case study. Required measurement setup is explained. Experimental results are reported and verified by finite element analysis. The used DIC algorithm is explained and its reliability is discussed.