Identification of crack tip location using edge detection algorithms and artificially generated displacement fields

Abstract

The present paper shows a way to identify crack tip location (CTL) using edge detection algorithms. Arbitrary crack tip coordinates were fed to Linear Elastic Facture mechanics (LEFM) analytical models to simulate displacement fields. Then, first degree edge detection algorithms were applied to the obtained displacement fields to identify crack edges. Results show excellent correlation between random and identified crack tip coordinates. The paper proves the method and that CTL can be identified not only using photographs but also the associated displacement fields in a sample loaded in different axis.