Scanning schemes in white light Photoelasticity – Part I: Critical assessment of existing schemes

The use of white light based Three Fringe Photoelasticity (TFP)/RGB Photoelasticity has gained importance in the recent years. With recent advances in TFP, it is possible to resolve fringe orders upto twelve. The main advantage of this technique is that it requires only a single image for isochromatic demodulation, which makes it suitable especially for problems where recording multiple images is difficult. The accuracy of isochromatic data obtained using TFP/RGB Photoelasticity is dependent on the scanning scheme used to refine the data, which is necessary to incorporate fringe order continuity. In this paper, the existing scanning schemes are critically evaluated for their ability to scan the entire model domain, influence of seed point selection and noise propagation. The scanning schemes are assessed using four problems of increasing level of geometric complexity – Circular disc under compression (simply connected), bi-axially loaded cruciform specimen with an inclined crack, a thick ring subjected to internal pressure and a finite plate with a hole (multiply connected).     

光弹等差线与等倾线参数的全场检测法

本文研究了一种自动获得全场等差线级数与等倾线参数角的方法.该方法是根据“相移”思想,利用数字图像处理技术,对光弹等差线图与等倾线图进行位相检测,经过去包裹处理,确定出全场各点的等差条纹级次与主应力方向角.最后通过典型实验,考核了这种方法的正确性与处理精度。     

A numerical comparison of real-time phase-shifting algorithms

Among data acquisition techniques in digital photoelasticity, the integrated phase shifting technique (IPST) can real-time analyze the photoelastic parameters at a video rate of the high speed CCD camera. In this paper, fourteen algorithms are described by different configurations of the rotating an analyzer at a constant rate and an output quarter-wave plate at another constant rate. The theoretical comparisons of the algorithms are given by the simulated phase distributions of the isochromatic and isoclinic parameters of the disk under two cases that the load keeps unchangeable or linear increasing in exposure time of the camera. Then a guideline is given to alleviate the influence of the load changing with time on the IPST.     

Noise removal in three-fringe photoelasticity by adaptive colour difference estimation

Three-fringe photoelasticity (TFP) can give the total fringe order from a single-colour isochromatic fringe field. In TFP, the total fringe order is obtained by comparing the colour of the unknown photoelastic fringe pattern with a calibration specimen. Comparison is conventionally done by minimising the colour difference error. This leads to misidentification of fringe order in some regions. A new colour difference formula is proposed with an additional term, which ensures continuity of fringe order data over the domain. Fringe order data obtained by conventional TFP is used as base data and the new method is termed as refined TFP. To enable applicability of the technique to arbitrary geometries, a new boundary identification technique is developed. The new method is demonstrated with some example problems.     

Noise removal in three-fringe photoelasticity by median filtering

In three-fringe photoelasticity, the total fringe order is obtained by comparing the colour of the unknown photoelastic fringe pattern with a calibration specimen. Comparison is conventionally done by minimising the colour difference error using the least square method. This can give the total fringe order from a single-colour isochromatic field. This technique, however, leads to misidentification of fringe order in some regions. Some researches have proposed boundary identification technique to remove this error. Whilst this ensures continuity of fringe order data over the domain, this does not provide accurate results for every region. A simpler method has been proposed in this paper using median filtering which can be easily undertaken using any standard image processing software. The method is demonstrated with the help of a simple example of disc under diametral compression.     

Phase-Stepping Photoelasticity by Use of Retarders with Arbitrary Retardation

The present paper describes a new phase-stepping algorithm for the analysis of isochromatics and isoclinics using retarders with arbitrary retardation. A retarder used in the proposed method is not necessarily a quarter-wave plate specified for the wavelength of the light used. Not only the isochromatic and isoclinic parameters but also the retardation of the input and output retarders are determined simultaneously by the proposed phase-stepping method. Thus, accurate analysis can be performed by the proposed method even if accurate quarter-wave plates are not used. In addition, any wavelength of visible light can be used in a single polariscope without requiring matching the wavelength of the quarter-wave plate. Thus, a multi-wavelength technique is easily combined with the proposed method for accuracy improvement, phase-unwrapping, or correction of ambiguity.     

Scanning schemes in white light photoelasticity – Part II: Novel fringe resolution guided scanning scheme

Varied spatial resolution of isochromatic fringes over the domain influences the accuracy of fringe order estimation using TFP/RGB photoelasticity. This has been brought out in the first part of the work. The existing scanning schemes do not take this into account, which leads to the propagation of noise from the low spatial resolution zones. In this paper, a method is proposed for creating a whole field map which represents the spatial resolution of the isochromatic fringe pattern. A novel scanning scheme is then proposed whose progression is guided by the spatial resolution of the fringes in the isochromatic image. The efficacy of the scanning scheme is demonstrated using three problems – an inclined crack under bi-axial loading, a thick ring subjected to internal pressure and a stress frozen specimen of an aerospace component. The proposed scheme has use in a range of applications. The scanning scheme is effective even if the model has random zones of noise which is demonstrated using a plate subjected to concentrated load. This aspect is well utilised to extract fringe data from thin slices cut from a stereo-lithographic model that has characteristic random noise due to layered manufacturing.     

Numerical analysis of phase-stepping interferometric photoelasticity for plane stress separation

A phase-stepping method for interferometric photoelasticity is proposed to determinate whole-field plane stress components. Isopachic phase can be obtained by rotating polarizer, second quarter-wave plate and analyzer at definite optical arrangements. On the other hand, isochromatic and isoclinic phases can be determined in a circular polariscope arrangement. Furthermore, a load-stepping method is adopted to overcome the wrong mathematic sign of the isochromatics in the ambiguity regions and the influence of initial interferometric fringes on the isopachics. Light intensities and phase-stepping formula for the proposed method are derived using Jones calculus. Simulation of a circular disk under diametral compression demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method.