Automatic detection and classification of damage zone(s) for incorporating in digital image correlation technique

•An algorithm is presented to automatically detect multiple damage zones in deformed image.•The algorithm identifies the pixels located inside the damaged zones and eliminate them from FEM-DIC processes.•The proposed algorithm is successfully implemented on several damaged samples to estimate displacement fields of an object under loading conditions.•This study shows that displacement fields represent the damage conditions reasonably well as compared to regular FEM-DIC technique without considering the damage zones.

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a technique developed for monitoring surface deformation/displacement of an object under loading conditions. This method is further refined to make it capable of handling discontinuities on the surface of the sample. A damage zone is referred to a surface area fractured and opened in due course of loading. In this study, an algorithm is presented to automatically detect multiple damage zones in deformed image. The algorithm identifies the pixels located inside these zones and eliminate them from FEM-DIC processes. The proposed algorithm is successfully implemented on several damaged samples to estimate displacement fields of an object under loading conditions. This study shows that displacement fields represent the damage conditions reasonably well as compared to regular FEM-DIC technique without considering the damage zones.