Error evaluation technique for three-dimensional digital image correlation

Three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation (DIC) is one of the most popular techniques used in engineering for strain and deformation measurement. However, the error analysis of 3D DIC, especially which kind of parameters dominates the error of 3D coordinate reconstruction in any kind of configuration, is still under study. In this paper, a technique that can be used for error determination of reconstruction is presented. The influence from the system calibration and image correlation to the error is theoretically analyzed. From numerical experiments of one-dimensional line and two-dimensional plane, the evaluation procedure is validated to be flexible. A typical test with standard objects is also conducted. With this technique, once a 3D DIC system is set up and images of objects with speckles and calibration boards are recorded, the error of the configuration can be immediately evaluated. The standard deviation of every point in the world coordinate can be determined by statistical analysis. © 2011 Optical Society of America.