Mechanical analysis of polyester resin using digital image correlation and finite element method

The primary objective of this study is to perform a comprehensive mechanical analysis of unsaturated polyester (UP) resin under unidirectional tensile loading. The Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique was employed to accurately determine the mechanical properties of the material, with full-field strain measurements used to extract both transverse and longitudinal strains through virtual extensometers. This approach facilitated the precise calculation of the Poisson’s ratio of the UP resin. The results obtained via DIC demonstrated strong correlation with the experimental data obtained through the machine’s control software, particularly in capturing vertical displacement and longitudinal strain with high precision. The Poisson’s ratio was found to be 0.46. To further validate the DIC findings, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted. The FEA results aligned closely with the experimental data, confirming the reliability and accuracy of the DIC method in this context. The values of Young’s modulus determined from experimental tests and FEA data were 3620.02 MPa and 3598 MPa, respectively, with a percentage error of only 0.61%.