Microdeformations in Sands by Digital Image Processing and Analysis

Laboratory experiments are typically performed on particulate media to study stress-deformation behavior and to verify or calibrate computer models from controlled or measured boundary stresses and displacements. However, such data do not permit the formation of shear bands, displacement fields within flowing granular media, and other small-scale localized deformation phenomena to be identified. Described are two semiautomated computer vision techniques for accurately determining the two-dimensional displacement field in granular soils from video images obtained through a transparent planar viewing window. The techniques described are applicable for studying the behavior of particulate media under plane strain and certain axisymmetric test conditions. Digital image processing and analysis routines are used in two different computer programs, Tracker and Tracer, Tracker uses a graphical user interface that allows individual particles to be selected and tracked through a sequence of digital video images. A contrast edge detection algorithm delineates the two-dimensional projected boundaries of particles. The location of the centroid of each particle selected for tracking is determined from the boundary to quantify the trajectory of each particle. Tracer maps the trace or trajectory of specially dyed fluorescent particles in a sequence of video frames. A thresholding technique segments individual particle trajectories. Together, Tracker and Tracer provide a set of tools for identifying small-scale displacement fields in particulate assemblies deforming under either quasi-static or rapid loading (such as gravity flow).