PhD student in Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, working in the Yang Research Group. My research focuses on advancing Digital Image/Volume Correlation (DIC/DVC) under extremely challenging conditions — complex geometry, large deformation, and biological tissues. I combine Machine Learning and Computer Vision to build open-source tools that make high-accuracy deformation measurement accessible to the experimental mechanics community. When I'm not correlating pixels, I'm hanging out with my Siamese cats 👉 🌐 zachtong.github.io

Lab supervisors (unofficial)

3D-ALDIC: Stereo Adaptive Mesh Augmented Lagrangian Digital Image Correlation An advanced, robust, and user-friendly open-source stereo-DIC method for high-accuracy 3D displacement measurement under complex geometry, large deformation, and biological tissue challenges.

RAFTcorr: An Open-Source, Deep Learning Digital Image Correlation Framework for Dense Displacement Measurement The first fully open-source RAFT-based DIC framework with a physically realistic training-data generation pipeline, pre-trained model weights, and a user-friendly GUI.

Machine Learning-Aided Spatial Adaptation for Improved DIC Analysis of Complex Geometries A machine learning approach that automates region selection, mesh refinement, and subset splitting near complex sample edges for improved DIC analysis efficiency.

Refraction Error Analysis in Stereo Vision for System Parameters Optimization Systematic analysis of refraction errors in stereo vision systems with optimization strategies for underwater and through-glass measurements.

Optimization of the Forearm Angle for Arm Wrestling Using Multi-Camera Stereo DIC Multi-camera stereo DIC applied to biomechanical optimization of arm wrestling technique — a fun intersection of sports science and measurement technology.

3D-Stereo-ALDIC — 3D Full-field Deformation Measurement

Open-source stereo-DIC for high-accuracy 3D displacement measurement.

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RAFTcorr — Deep Learning DIC Framework

The first fully open-source RAFT-based DIC framework with training pipeline, pre-trained weights, and GUI.

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DIC-ROI-Mask-Generator — Automated ROI Masking

Automated ROI and mask generation tool for DIC analysis.

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Bubble-Radius-Fitting — High-Speed Cavitation Analysis

MATLAB-based GUI for bubble radius fitting in complex-background ultra-high-speed cavitation imaging.

Project	Description	Status
RAFT-DVC	A DVC-tailored RAFT framework
STAQ-DIC-GUI	Refactored and optimized STAQ-DIC with a GUI
2D_ALDIC	AL-DIC combining advantages of Local Subset and Global DIC
ALDVC	Adaptive Lagrangian Digital Volume Correlation
STAQ-DIC	Spatiotemporally Adaptive Quadtree Mesh DIC for large deformations
3D_DVC_Dataset_Generator	Synthetic DVC dataset generator

• ML-DIC — Developing a machine learning-based DIC method (current main research focus)
• Fracture Mechanics + DIC — Integrating DIC with fracture mechanics for crack characterization
• Finite Element Simulation — Computational modeling with Abaqus and COMSOL Multiphysics
• iDICs Good Practices Guide (Edition 2) — Contributing author to the community-driven DIC best practices guide
• Stereo-DIC Challenge 2.0 — Participating with 3D-ALDIC method
• DVC Challenge 2.0 — Serving as assistant for coordination, data organization, and paper writing

2026

• SEM Annual 2026 (Norfolk, VA) — "RAFTcorr: An Open-Source, Deep Learning DIC Framework for Dense Displacement Measurement" | Jun 1-4

2025

• iDICs 2025 (Alexandria, VA) — "RAFTcorr: An Open-Source, Deep Learning DIC Framework for Dense Displacement Measurement" | Nov 4-6
• TECHCON 2025 (Austin, TX) — "3D Stereo-ALDIC for High-Precision Full-field Deformation Characterization in Semiconductor Materials" | Sep 7-10
• SEM Annual 2025 (Milwaukee, WI) — "3D Stereo-ALDIC" | Jun 2-5
• IMAC-XLIII 2025 (Orlando, FL) — "Advancing Digital Image Correlation for Biomechanical Applications" | Feb 3-6

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to explore my projects and reach out if you're interested in collaborating.

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Peer reviewer #2 taking a break