Application of digital phase-shift shadow Moiré to micro deformation measurements of curved surfaces

The shortcomings of conventional shadow Moiré topography have in the past been improved by means of the phase-shift method which enhances the sensitivity and allows to process the fringe patterns automatically. This paper presents a digital implementation of the phase-shifting process, which requires only one image to be taken. The grating lines, projected onto the deformed object surface, are captured directly with a digital camera. Next the reference grating is superimposed numerically onto the projected grating lines. Then a number of phase-shifts are performed taking into account the non-linearities in the expression for the height-dependent intensity field. Experimental results prove that these non-linearities can considerably affect the micro deformation measurements of curved surfaces. The proposed method is very efficient and eliminates all causes of erroneous measurements due to the miscalibration of phase-stepping devices.