Dynamic Measurement of an Embankment Dam Shake Table Experiment using Online Image Analysis

The dynamic response of an embankment dam involves sophisticated nonlinear mechanism under significant earthquakes. In addition to mathematical and numerical approaches, running a dynamic experiment of an embankment dam on a... [ view full abstract ]

The dynamic response of an embankment dam involves sophisticated nonlinear mechanism under significant earthquakes. In addition to mathematical and numerical approaches, running a dynamic experiment of an embankment dam on a shake table is a good and straight forward to observe the mechanism for further studies. However, the dynamic response, deformation, and cracks on the surface of the specimen that could occur during the experiment are difficult to measure by conventional contact displacement devices. The limited space does not allow a large number of contact sensors to install. In addition, sensors themselves may affect the failure mechanism of the embankment dam specimen.

This paper presents an image analysis procedure to carry out displacement measurement in an embankment dam shake table experiment. Two Android powered smart cameras installed in this test were used in this work. Camera parameters are well calibrated so that the optical perspective and distortion effects can be minimized. Image tracking, image registration, and camera movement correction are prototyped and integrated to estimate the deformation of the surface of the embankment dam.