Automation of data acquisition in reflection photoelasticity by phaseshifting methodology

Abstract An optical arrangement for application of the phaseshifting technique to reflection photoelasticity is presented. The intensity equations for application of phaseshifting methodology are obtained by Jones' calculus. A new portable reflection polariscope is designed to effect the optical arrangement. The use of a commercially available Handycam is shown to meet the requirement of image capturing for digital photoelastic analysis. Fringe order variations for three arbitrary lines in a circular disc under diametral compression are obtained by the new methodology and compared with theoretical predictions. The comparison is found to be good.