Study of the performance of different subpixel image correlation methods in 3D digital image correlation

The three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) method is rapidly developing and is being widely applied to engineering and manufacturing. Despite its extensive use, the error caused by different image matching algorithms is seldom discussed. An algorithm for 3D speckle image generation is proposed, and the performances of different subpixel correlation algorithms are studied. The advantage is that there is no interpolation bias of texture in the simulation before and after deformation, and the error from the interpolation of speckle can be omitted in this algorithm. An error criterion for 3D reconstruction is proposed. 3D speckle images were simulated, and the performance of four subpixel algorithms is addressed. Based on the research results of different subpixel algorithms, a first-order Newton-Raphson iteration method and gradient-based method are recommended for 3D-DIC measurement. © 2010 Optical Society of America.