3D deformation and strain measurement of an intact eardrum using digital image correlation

In the field of hearing research, strain measurements are scarce. Such measurements can however provide valuable data on several middle ear pathologies. They could also help to gain a better understanding of the properties of the eardrum and further validate middle ear finite element models. We built a digital image correlation setup in order to assess three dimensional deformation and strain measurements of an intact eardrum. Different types of speckle pattern were evaluated. We then measured the deformation and strain of an eardrum subjected to large static pressures. The results illustrate that the application of digital image correlation to measure deformation and strain in intact eardrums is feasible. In the future, the setup will be further developed and eardrum strain measurements will be performed for different pathologies.