Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Review of High‐Speed Digital Image Correlation: Advancements and Good Practices

Journal Article · · Strain
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/str.70018· OSTI ID:3009518
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD (United States)
  3. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

This paper reviews the current state of the art in high‐speed (HS) and ultrahigh‐speed (UHS) digital image correlation (DIC) techniques, emphasizing their critical role in experimental research across various scientific domains. HS and UHS DIC have evolved significantly, driven by advancements in camera systems, image processing algorithms and experimental methodologies. These developments have opened new avenues for capturing and analysing dynamic events with unprecedented temporal and spatial detail, but not without introducing challenges such as optical distortions, motion blur and lighting issues that can affect measurement quality. This review advocates for standardized reporting practices in HS/UHS DIC methodologies to improve reproducibility and reliability across studies, drawing on guidelines from the International Digital Image Correlation Society (iDICs). Through a comprehensive analysis of over 150 articles, this review identifies key advancements in imaging technology and their application in six research domains: material characterization, test development, fracture mechanics, model validation, ballistic and explosive phenomena assessment and measurement uncertainties. Distinctions between two‐dimensional (2D) and stereo‐DIC applications are explored, offering insights into their practical implementation and trade‐offs. Good practices for HS/UHS DIC applications are proposed along with suggestions for future directions for this evolving field, highlighting the indispensable role of technological innovation in expanding the capabilities of optical metrology.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0004152; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
3009518
Report Number(s):
SAND--2025-15299J; 1766740
Journal Information:
Strain, Journal Name: Strain Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 61; ISSN 1475-1305; ISSN 0039-2103
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (142)

High Rates and Impact Experiments book January 2008
The Virtual Fields Method: Extracting Constitutive Mechanical Parameters from Full-field Deformation Measurements book December 2011
A novel impact three-point bend test method for determining dynamic fracture-initiation toughness journal June 1989
Non-parametric material state field extraction from full field measurements journal May 2019
A Review of Dynamic Experimental Techniques and Mechanical Behaviour of Rock Materials journal September 2013
Rate and microstructure influence on the fracture behavior of cemented carbides WC-Co and WC-Ni journal August 2017
Assessment of High Speed Imaging Systems for 2D and 3D Deformation Measurements: Methodology Development and Validation journal January 2007
Full Field Strain Measurement in Compression and Tensile Split Hopkinson Bar Experiments journal August 2008
Comparison of Local and Global Approaches to Digital Image Correlation journal March 2012
Dynamic Tensile Characterization of a 4330-V Steel with Kolsky Bar Techniques journal June 2013
Static Laboratory Earthquake Measurements with the Digital Image Correlation Method journal May 2014
Fracture Behavior of Prestressed Composites Subjected to Shock Loading: A DIC-Based Study journal August 2014
A Shear-Tension Specimen for Large Strain Testing journal November 2015
Drop Tower Adaptation for Medium Strain Rate Tensile Testing journal November 2015
A Dynamic Inflation Test for Soft Materials journal January 2016
Recent Advances and Perspectives in Digital Image Correlation journal January 2015
A Critical Comparison of Some Metrological Parameters Characterizing Local Digital Image Correlation and Grid Method journal April 2017
Stereo-DIC Uncertainty Quantification based on Simulated Images journal May 2017
DIC Challenge: Developing Images and Guidelines for Evaluating Accuracy and Resolution of 2D Analyses journal December 2017
Dynamic Response of Aluminum 5083 During Taylor Impact Using Digital Image Correlation journal May 2018
Full-field Ultrahigh-speed Quantification of Dynamic Shear Ruptures Using Digital Image Correlation journal April 2019
Strain Rate Dependent Compressive Response of Open Cell Polyurethane Foam journal May 2019
A Comparative Study of Dynamic Fracture of Soda-Lime Glass Using Photoelasticity, Digital Image Correlation and Digital Gradient Sensing Techniques journal November 2019
Towards Criteria Characterizing the Metrological Performance of Full-field Measurement Techniques journal January 2020
High-Precision Digital Image Correlation for Investigation of Fluid-Structure Interactions in a Shock Tube journal July 2020
DIC Challenge 2.0: Developing Images and Guidelines for Evaluating Accuracy and Resolution of 2D Analyses journal January 2022
Uncertainty Analysis of Dynamic Rupture Measurements Obtained Through Ultrahigh-Speed Digital Image Correlation journal January 2023
Path-Integrated X-Ray Images for Multi-Surface Digital Image Correlation (PI-DIC) journal March 2023
Path-Integrated Stereo X-Ray Digital Image Correlation: Resolving the Violation of Conservation of Intensity journal February 2024
Temperature Dependent Dynamic Response of Open-Cell Polyurethane Foams journal April 2024
Eighty Years of the Finite Element Method: Birth, Evolution, and Future journal June 2022
Finite Element Model Updating for Material Model Calibration: A Review and Guide to Practice journal November 2024
Rate-Dependent Hole-Expansion Experiments on Plastically Anisotropic Sheets journal November 2023
Uncertainty Quantification for DIC Displacement Measurements in Industrial Environments journal February 2021
High-Speed X-Ray Stereo Digital Image Correlation in a Shock Tube journal November 2021
A Method for Dynamic Kolsky Bar Compression at High Temperatures: Application to Ti-6Al-4V journal November 2024
An Image-Based Inertial Impact (IBII) Test for Tungsten Carbide Cermets journal August 2018
A Novel Image-Based Inertial Impact Test (IBII) for the Transverse Properties of Composites at High Strain Rates journal February 2019
Nonparametric extraction of the constitutive response of low-impedance materials at high rates book December 2021
Large strain constitutive behavior of OFHC copper over a wide range of strain rates using the shear compression specimen journal October 2002
Dynamic behavior of rock during its post failure stage in SHPB tests journal January 2017
Data-based derivation of material response journal April 2018
High-speed 3D digital image correlation of low-velocity impacts on composite plates journal December 2017
Performance of functionally graded sandwich composite beams under shock wave loading journal April 2012
A combined digital image correlation/particle image velocimetry study of water-backed impact journal September 2019
Dynamic fracture behavior of a MAX phase Ti3SiC2 journal January 2017
Dynamic fracture of soda-lime glass plates studied using two modified Digital Gradient Sensing techniques journal June 2020
Research on the characteristics of crack propagation at high temperatures based on digital image correlation technology journal March 2022
Review of experimental techniques for high rate deformation and shock studies journal August 2004
Application of 3D image correlation for full-field transient plate deformation measurements during blast loading journal June 2009
Laboratory-scale techniques for the measurement of a material response to an explosive blast journal July 2009
A non-equilibrium approach to processing Hopkinson Bar bending test data: Application to quasi-brittle materials journal December 2010
Response of E-glass/vinyl ester composite panels to underwater explosive loading: Effects of laminate modifications journal October 2011
Effect of plate curvature on blast response of aluminum panels journal August 2012
Numerical simulation and experimental validation of the dynamic response of aluminum plates under free air explosions journal April 2013
Use of a shock tube to determine the bi-axial yield of an aluminum alloy under high rates journal August 2013
Explosive driven shock tube loading of aluminium plates: experimental study journal December 2015
Experimental study on the response of thin aluminium and steel plates subjected to airblast loading journal April 2016
Transient response of steel plates subjected to close proximity explosive detonations in air journal April 2017
Analysis of dynamic bending test using ultra high speed DIC and the virtual fields method journal December 2017
Damage and deformation in composite sandwich panels exposed to multiple and single explosive blasts journal June 2017
On the dynamic response of blast-loaded steel plates with and without pre-formed holes journal October 2017
Study of rate dependent behavior of glass/epoxy composites with nanofillers using non-contact strain measurement journal December 2017
Full-field measurement and fracture characterisations of rocks under dynamic loads using high-speed three-dimensional digital image correlation journal March 2018
Laboratory scale investigation of stress wave propagation and vibrational characteristics in sand when subjected to air-blast loading journal April 2018
A novel approach for the investigation of low energy ice impacts journal November 2018
Characterization of adhesively bonded aluminum plates subjected to shock-wave loading journal May 2019
Measurement of kinematic fields via DIC for impact engineering applications journal August 2019
Dynamic response of closed cell PVC foams subjected to underwater shock loading journal August 2019
Identification of the material behavior of adhesive joints under dynamic multiaxial loadings journal November 2019
Fracture surface morphology of brittle geomaterials influenced by loading rate and grain size journal November 2019
On the dynamic response of adhesively bonded structures journal April 2020
Full-field deformation measurements from Brazilian disc tests on anisotropic phyllite under impact loads journal March 2021
Deformation of Armox 440T plates subject to buried explosive charge detonations: A benchmark for appliqué systems journal April 2021
Tensile and Flexural Behavior of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) under Impact Loading journal July 2021
A novel tests set-up for validation of connector models subjected to static and impact loadings journal December 2021
3D optical diagnostics for explosively driven deformation and fragmentation journal April 2022
A DIC-based Taylor impact test by measuring inertia force from acceleration distribution to obtain uniaxial stress–strain behavior of pure aluminum journal February 2024
Experimental characterization of material strain-rate dependence based on full-field Data-Driven Identification journal December 2024
Digital image correlation (DIC) based damage detection for CFRP laminates by using machine learning based image semantic segmentation journal September 2022
An experimental and numerical study of the localization behavior of tantalum and stainless steel journal July 2006
Two-dimensional evolution of temperature and deformation fields during dynamic shear banding: In-situ experiments and modeling journal December 2023
Determination of mechanical properties and full-field strain measurements of rock material under dynamic loads journal June 2013
Viscoplastic parameter estimation by high strain-rate experiments and inverse modelling – Speckle measurements and high-speed photography journal January 2007
Identification of the plastic behavior of aluminum plates under free air explosions using inverse methods and full-field measurements journal January 2014
In-situ study on compressive behaviors of different types of 3D SiC/SiC composites using X-ray computed tomography and digital image correlation journal January 2023
Dynamic shear localization of a titanium alloy under high-rate tension characterized by x-ray digital image correlation journal March 2018
Role of anisotropy in the ballistic response of rolled magnesium journal September 2021
Development of a balanced experimental–computational approach to understanding the mechanics of proximal femur fractures journal June 2014
The effect of out-of-plane motion on 2D and 3D digital image correlation measurements journal October 2008
Full-frame, high-speed 3D shape and deformation measurements using stereo-digital image correlation and a single color high-speed camera journal August 2017
Higher sensitivity Digital Gradient Sensing configurations for quantitative visualization of stress gradients in transparent solids journal September 2018
Camera motion-induced systematic errors in stereo-DIC and speckle-based compensation method journal February 2022
Experimental characterization of dynamic behaviour of gelatin-based material using DIC journal October 2017
Review of the development of the split Hopkinson pressure bar journal January 2023
Experimental evaluation of the transient propagation fracture properties of rocks under dynamic mode I loading: An insight from digital image correlation journal June 2022
Subset-based local vs. finite element-based global digital image correlation: A comparison study journal September 2016
Single-camera high-speed stereo-digital image correlation for full-field vibration measurement journal September 2017
Understanding dynamic friction through spontaneously evolving laboratory earthquakes journal June 2017
Novel pure-shear sheet specimen geometry for dynamic material characterisation
  • Peirs, J.; Verleysen, P.; Van Paepegem, W.
  • DYMAT 2009 - 9th International Conferences on the Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Materials under Dynamic Loading https://doi.org/10.1051/dymat/2009005
conference January 2009
Dynamic response of reverse Taylor impact based on DIC technology journal January 2015
Development of “Dropkinson” Bar for Intermediate Strain-rate Testing journal January 2018
Laser interferometer for measuring high velocities of any reflecting surface journal November 1972
Dynamic Response of Aluminum journal April 1964
The Shock Tube: A Facility for Investigations in Fluid Dynamics journal November 1949
Multi Diagnostic Experiment to Access Striction Phenomena Analysis of Copper Structure Under Dynamic Expansion
  • Voltz, C.; Lagrange, J. M.; Besnard, G.
  • SHOCK COMPRESSION OF CONDENSED MATTER 2009: Proceedings of the American Physical Society Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, AIP Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3294977
conference January 2009
Note: Dynamic strain field mapping with synchrotron X-ray digital image correlation journal July 2014
High speed ultraviolet digital image correlation (UV-DIC) for dynamic strains at extreme temperatures journal August 2022
Three-dimensional full-field velocity measurements in shock compression experiments using stereo digital image correlation journal February 2023
Assessment of the metrological performance of anin situstorage image sensor ultra-high speed camera for full-field deformation measurements journal December 2013
Study of dynamic underwater implosion mechanics using digital image correlation
  • Gupta, Sachin; Parameswaran, Venkitanarayanan; Sutton, Michael A.
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 470, Issue 2172 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2014.0576
journal December 2014
Beyond Hopkinson's bar
  • Pierron, F.; Zhu, H.; Siviour, C.
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 372, Issue 2023 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2013.0195
journal August 2014
Coherent gradient sensing (CGS) method for fracture mechanics: a review journal November 2010
Digital Image Correlation: from Displacement Measurement to Identification of Elastic Properties - a Review journal May 2006
Ultra-High-Speed Full-Field Deformation Measurements on Concrete Spalling Specimens and Stiffness Identification with the Virtual Fields Method journal May 2012
Introduction to Digital Image Correlation: Best Practices and Applications journal January 2012
Dynamic Brazilian Test of Brittle Materials Using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar and Digital Image Correlation journal October 2014
Validation of finite‐element models using full‐field experimental data: Levelling finite‐element analysis data through a digital image correlation engine journal April 2020
Towards Material Testing 2.0. A review of test design for identification of constitutive parameters from full‐field measurements journal September 2020
High strain rate elasto‐plasticity identification using the image‐based inertial impact (IBII) test part 2: Experimental validation journal February 2021
High strain rate elasto‐plasticity identification using the image‐based inertial impact (IBII) test part 1: Error quantification journal February 2021
Metrological assessment of multi‐sensor camera technology for spatially‐resolved ultra‐high‐speed imaging of transient high strain‐rate deformation processes journal May 2021
Combined thermographic phosphor and digital image correlation (TP + DIC) for simultaneous temperature and strain measurements journal May 2022
Material Testing 2.0: A brief review journal March 2023
Experimental Methodology Using Digital Image Correlation to Assess Ballistic Helmet Blunt Trauma journal August 2011
Experimental Investigation on Underwater Buckling of Thin-Walled Composite and Metallic Structures journal July 2016
High-speed digital image correlation: error estimations and applications journal May 2007
Three-dimensional digital image correlation to quantify deformation and crack-opening displacement in ductile aluminum under mixed-mode I/III loading journal May 2007
Full-field dynamic deformation and strain measurements using high-speed digital cameras conference March 2005
Characterization of Necking Phenomena in High-Speed Experiments by Using a Single Camera journal January 2010
Dynamic fracture behavior of hygrothermally degraded carbon epoxy composites journal April 2022
Analysis of image series through global digital image correlation journal April 2012
Investigation of the strain rate hardening behaviour of glass fibre reinforced epoxy under blast loading
  • Louar, Mohamed A.; Belkacem, Bachir; Ousji, Hamza
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, Vol. 236, Issue 21 https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406220936320
journal June 2020
The application of high-speed digital image correlation journal August 2008
Measurement of transient deformations using digital image correlation method and high-speed photography: application to dynamic fracture journal July 2007
Three-dimensional digital image correlation technique using single high-speed camera for measuring large out-of-plane displacements at high framing rates journal January 2010
High-speed stereo-digital image correlation using a single color high-speed camera journal January 2018
Coupling machine learning and synthetic image DIC-based techniques for the calibration of elastoplastic constitutive models conference April 2023
Response of Jointed Structures in Shock-Induced Flow: Surface Pressure and Structural Measurements with Finite Element Modeling journal May 2021
High/Ultra-High Speed Imaging as a Diagnostic Tool journal August 2011
Performances and Limitations of Three Ultra High-Speed Imaging Cameras for Full-Field Deformation Measurements journal August 2011
Dynamic crack propagation in weak snowpack layers: insights from high-resolution, high-speed photography journal July 2021

Similar Records

The application of high-speed digital image correlation.
Journal Article · Thu Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 2008 · Proposed for publication in Journal of Strain Analysis. · OSTI ID:940536

High-Speed X-Ray Stereo Digital Image Correlation in a Shock Tube
Journal Article · Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Experimental Techniques · OSTI ID:1830535

An Integrated High-Speed Microstructural Characterization Method Using Simultaneous XRD, Stereo-DIC, and PCI
Journal Article · Mon Jun 02 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials · OSTI ID:2574055