Mechanical characterization and crack propagation in Additively Manufactured Polymers using Digital Image Correlation: a review.
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| Title: | Mechanical characterization and crack propagation in Additively Manufactured Polymers using Digital Image Correlation: a review. |
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| Authors: | Taoufik, Hachimi1 Hachtaoufik@gmail.com, Najat, Zekriti2 Najat.ze@hotmail.fr, Fouad, Ait Hmazi2 Aithmazi.f@ucd.ac.ma, Hamza, Bagar2 Bagar.h@ucd.ac.ma, Hatim, El Assad2 Hatimelassad2@gmail.com, Nassima, Naboulsi2 Naboulsi.n@ucd.ac.ma |
| Source: | Fracture & Structural Integrity. Jul2026, Issue 77, p173-206. 34p. |
| Subjects: | Digital image correlation, Crack propagation, Mechanical behavior of materials, Anisotropy, Industry 4.0, Polymers, Metrology, Three-dimensional printing |
| Abstract: | While Additive Manufacturing (AM) of polymers has matured from rapid prototyping to functional production, the layer-wise fabrication process introduces significant mechanical anisotropy and microstructural heterogeneity, which complicates conventional mechanical characterization. This review examines the applicability of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) as a full-field, non-contact metrological tool for mapping strain with sub-pixel precision across three domains: (1) the fundamental metrological principles of DIC applied to anisotropic AM structures, (2) a critical synthesis of DIC applications in tensile, fracture, fatigue, and impact testing, and (3) emerging advances in data acquisition, including in-situ monitoring and AI-driven frameworks. DIC uniquely enables the direct visualization of localized strain concentrations at filament interfaces and non-ideal crack propagation paths that conventional point-wise sensors obscure. Technological maturation is increasingly driven by Deep DIC frameworks and neural operators (DisplacementNet, StrainNet), which now integrate with automated defect tracking systems. Furthermore, multimodal approaches combining DIC with Acoustic Emission (AE) and Micro-Computed Tomography (µ-CT), alongside volumetric Digital Volume Correlation (DVC), extend damage characterization from surface observations to internal defect evolution. To support industrial certification in safety-critical sectors, the community must adopt standardized metrological baselines, including the Metrological Efficiency Indicator (MEI) and the iDICs Good Practices Guide. These protocols will bridge the gap between as-designed simulations and as-built experimental validation, positioning DIC as a foundational technology for Industry 4.0 and NDE 4.0 paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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