Contribution to analysis of the reflection grating method

The reflection grating method is a special case of the well-known reflection moiré principle. Whereas this moiré effect is suitable for measurement of the slope and curvature of deformed object surfaces by superposition of at least two grating images, the same results can be determined using only one reflected grating image without moiré lines.Some fundamental relationships between grating lines, optical setup and the desired deformation are developed and compared with the simplifications that are known from the moiré principle. The theory is tested using a circular plate, uniformly loaded and clamped at the circumference.