Digital Image Correlation | Photron
High-Speed Imaging Techniques

Digital Image Correlation

Measure full-field displacement, deformation, vibration, and strain using synchronized high-speed imaging and non-contact optical analysis.

Full-Field Optical Measurement

Digital Image Correlation, commonly called DIC, is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional optical tracking technique used to measure deformation, displacement, vibration, and strain.

DIC software follows a random gray-value or speckle pattern across sequential images. As the specimen moves or deforms, the software calculates how small image subsets shift, producing visual maps and quantitative measurement data.

2D and 3D DIC Systems

The camera configuration depends on whether motion remains within a single plane or includes out-of-plane movement and three-dimensional shape change.

Single Camera

2D Digital Image Correlation

A single high-speed camera measures in-plane movement when the specimen surface remains parallel to the image sensor.

  • In-plane displacement and strain
  • Simpler calibration and alignment
  • Ideal for flat or constrained specimens
  • Reduced equipment and setup requirements
Stereo Cameras

3D Digital Image Correlation

Two synchronized, calibrated cameras view the specimen from different angles to measure three-dimensional surface movement and shape.

  • In-plane and out-of-plane displacement
  • Three-dimensional strain and deformation
  • Useful for bending, twisting, impact, and buckling
  • Requires precise synchronization and calibration

DIC Testing Applications

DIC can be used on metals, rubber, glass, plastics, composites, biological materials, and complete engineered structures.

Deformation & Strain

Measure local and global deformation, strain concentration, necking, yielding, and permanent shape change.

Vibration & Motion

Track transient vibration, mode shapes, oscillation, displacement, deflection, and dynamic structural response.

Impact & Failure

Capture rapid deformation, crack initiation, rupture, delamination, buckling, crushing, and energy absorption.

Common DIC Test Types

High-speed DIC extends traditional optical measurement to rapidly changing and destructive tests.

Tensile Testing

Measure elongation, necking, strain localization, crack initiation, and rupture across the specimen surface.

Torsion Testing

Track twisting, shear strain, angular displacement, surface distortion, and failure under rotational loading.

Bending & Flexure

Measure deflection, curvature, tensile and compressive strain, crack growth, and dynamic bending response.

Load Testing

Correlate full-field motion and strain with applied force, pressure, torque, or structural loading.

Drop & Impact Testing

Analyze displacement, component movement, contact deformation, rebound, fracture, and energy transfer.

Composite Failure

Visualize delamination, fiber failure, matrix cracking, interface separation, and progressive structural damage.

Typical DIC Workflow

A successful DIC test depends on surface preparation, camera geometry, calibration, synchronized recording, illumination, and post-processing.

1
Prepare Apply a stable, high-contrast random speckle pattern to the visible specimen surface.
2
Position Choose camera distance, lens, field of view, stereo angle, and working distance.
3
Calibrate Calibrate image scale for 2D or the synchronized stereo-camera geometry for 3D.
4
Record Capture sharp, synchronized images throughout the full test event.
5
Analyze Calculate displacement, strain, velocity, acceleration, vibration, and deformation maps.
Aviation Research

Virtual Engineering Laboratory

Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research uses Photron high-speed cameras in its Virtual Engineering Laboratory to record high-impact dynamic events that occur too quickly for the human eye to follow.

Discuss a high-speed DIC system →
Dynamic TestingHigh-speed optical measurement for impact and other rapidly changing aviation test events.
High ResolutionImage detail sufficient for optical tracking, visualization, and quantitative analysis.
Synchronized CaptureMultiple cameras can record simultaneously for stereo DIC and complementary test views.
Virtual EngineeringTest imagery supports modeling, reconstruction, validation, and engineering decision-making.

Selecting a Camera for DIC

Camera choice affects spatial resolution, temporal resolution, image sharpness, measurement accuracy, stereo synchronization, and the quality of the final strain data.

ResolutionPreserve the speckle pattern and enough pixels across the area of interest for accurate subset tracking.
Frame RateCapture sufficient images throughout impact, rupture, vibration, or other dynamic events.
Exposure TimeUse short exposures, sometimes below one microsecond, to prevent motion blur during fast tests.
Light SensitivityMaintain usable image brightness and contrast when exposure duration becomes extremely short.
SynchronizationPrecisely align stereo cameras and correlate image timing with load, pressure, and sensor data.
Camera GeometrySelect lenses, mounting, working distance, stereo angle, and field of view for the required measurement area.

Need help configuring a DIC system?

Share your test speed, specimen size, field of view, strain requirements, camera count, and DIC software with Photron.

Contact Photron