Patent Publication Number: US-4320966-A

Title: Fourier processor of photoelastic data and method of using same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the experimental stress analysis and more particularly to the optically assisted processing of photoelastic data. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In my previous invention U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,960 &#34;Photoelastic Strain Gauge Coating and Method of Using Same&#34; a standard photoelastic coating has been disclosed as a coating of standard shape and of standard boundary conditions (load-free boundary). The more detailed analysis of computations involved to separate strains, shows that the substantial computer time expenditures are inherent in the proposed technique. The bulk of these relates to the numerical convolution of certain functions obtained from the experiment. It is also shown in the papers: &#34;Strain Separation in S.P.C.&#34;, Paper No. R79-160 and &#34;Inversion Problem in Infinite S.P.C.&#34;, Paper No. R79-161 SESA Spring Meeting, 1979 by Z. Reytblatt that for the &#34;infinite&#34; coatings (that is the coatings whose bonded area is small compared to the total area) the averaged strains and the strains in the prototype-coating interface are certain convolutions. 
     The patent application &#34;Polariscope and Filter Thereof&#34; Ser. No. 038,575 discloses a method of obtaining images containing information on both principal stress difference and principal strain directions throughout the entire field of observation using filters containing a multiplicity of elements transmitting light of specified wavelengths and polarization planes. Semitransparent mirror films built in the slab of photoelastic materials, in general, are well known. However, the dichroic film application as a built-in film in photoelasticity has not been disclosed. 
     Devices capable of producing the Fourier transforms of given functions, their inverses and/or convolutions are well known (U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,197 &#34;Optical Cross correlation&#34;, as an example). 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Objects 
     One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of using same for strain measurements employing photoelastic coatings which rapidly and economically evaluates A- and B-potentials (which are defined below). 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide for the strain separation in the &#34;infinite&#34; photoelastic coatings. 
     Still another object of the present invention is the evaluation of the strains on a prototype surface in the area thereof bonded to the photoelastic coating. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects of this invention are partially realized by an apparatus which produces the image containing ##EQU1## or these quantities and, in addition to this, ##EQU2## where τ=ε 1  -ε 2 , ε 1 , ε 2  -are principal strains in the coating, x,y-are cartesian coordinates in the coating plane, the origin being located at the prototype-coating interface, z-axis being directed inward the coating, θ being an angle between the x-axis and the first principal strain ε 1  (it is assumed that θ does not substantially rotate through the coating), h is the coating thickness and h 1  &lt;h. 
     These objects are realized in full by an auxiliary apparatus convolving said functions and another specified functions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a functional diagram for obtaining a film record containing information on τ,τ 1 , θ. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a filtering system of the apparatus shown in the FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 shows a simplified filtering system of the apparatus depicted in the FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of a Fourier processor for obtaining averaged through the coating depth strains and/or strains in the coating-prototype interface. 
     FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of a filter of the Fourier processor depicted in the FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 depicts a reflection polariscope 1 for the analysis of strains in prototype 10. 
     A polychromatic light beam from the source 2 passes through the filter 3 and lens 4 serving as a collimator. 
     Filter 3 is depicted separately in the FIG. 2 and consists of four elements transmitting monochromatic light of four different wavelengths λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3  and λ 4  these monochromatic rays being polarized, respectively, at 0°, 45°, 0°, 45° to the horizontal which is shown by the arrows in the FIG. 2. 
     We return now to the FIG. 1. The light passes through the phase plate 5 which for the convenience of the further discussion has an effect of a strain ε xx  of the magnitude corresponding to 0.15 of the fringe order for the shortest of the waves, superimposed on the strain field in the coating 6. The phase plate 5 is optional and can be eliminated if τ is positive (or negative) throughout the field of observation due to either prestress of the coating 6 prior to bonding it to the prototype 10 or due to the nature of loading. 
     The thickness h of coating 6 is chosen as to the optical effect corresponding to the expected maximum strain would not exceed 0.15 of the fringe order for the shortest of the waves used in the experiment and this restriction can be relaxed for h 1  &lt;h. This insures that all the intensities being dealt with below represent positive (or negative) functions and that 0&lt;τ&lt;0.3. For different problems and materials h may vary from 0.0001&#34; to 0.5&#34;. 
     After passing through the depth h-h 1  of coating, the light beam encounters a dichroic filter 7 which transmits the rays of wavelengths λ 3  and λ 4  and reflects the rays of wavelengths λ 1  and λ 2 . It is preferable that λ 1  and λ 2  were less than λ 3  and λ 4  because the latter rays have the longer path in the coating. The rays of wavelengths λ 3  and λ 4  are reflected by a mirrorred rear surface 8 of the coating 6 or by the surface of the prototype 10. 
     The reflected rays pass again through the coating 6, filter 11, which may be the same as the filter 3 but is rotated by 90° and and through the lens 12 forming an image 13 on a receiving surface 43 which is recorded. 
     Due to the orientation of axes of polarization in filters 3 and 11, the intensities of the record 13 (which may be a photographic film) in colors corresponding to the wavelengths λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , λ 4  are, respectively, k 1  τ sin 2θ, k 2  τ cos 2θ, k 3  τ 1  sin 2θ and k 4  τ 1  cos 2θ, where k 1 ,k 2 ,k 3  and k 4  are certain constants. It is implied here that θ does not rotate through the coating thickness and that sin τ≃τ which is provided by the condition 0&lt;τ&lt;0.3. 
     To facilitate comprehension of the further processing of the information contained in the record 13 a brief extraction from the papers: &#34;Strain Separation in S.P.C.&#34;, Paper No. R79-160 and &#34;Inversion Problem in Infinite S.P.C&#34;, Paper No. R79-161 SESA Spring Meeting, 1979 by Z. Reytblatt is necessary. An asterisk is used to indicate a Fourier transform of a given function f(x,y) into a Fourier plane ξ,η so that ##EQU3## Then, in every plane z=constant of the &#34;infinite&#34; coating the following equations take place: 
     
         ε*=cos 2β(τ cos 2θ)*+sin 2β(τ sin 2θ)*                                                (7) 
    
     
         2ω*=cos 2β(τ sin 2θ)*-sin 2β(τ cos 2θ)* (8) 
    
     
         (τ cos 2θ)*=ε* cos 2β-2ω* sin 2β(9) 
    
     
         (τ sin 2θ)*=2ω* cos 2β+ε* sin 2β(10) 
    
     where ε is a plane dilatation, ε=ε 1  +ε 2 , ω is a component of rotation normal to the coating plane, β=arc cos (ξ/ρ), ρ=(ξ 2  +η 2 ) 1/2 . The same equations hold for τ, τ 1 , ε, ε 1 , ω,ω 1  where ε, ω, ε 1 ,ω 1  are the integrals of ε,ω over the ranges from 0 to h and from h 1  to h, respectively. 
     It can also be proven that at the interface z=0 the following equations take place: 
     
         ω*(ξ,η,0)=tcoth(t)ω*(ξ,η)/h      (11) 
    
     
         ε*(ξ,η,0)=a(t)ε*/h+a.sub.1 (t)(ε.sup.1)*/h (12) 
    
     where t=ρh, and a(t), a 1  (t) are certain functions. We return now to the FIG. 4 depicting an auxiliary apparatus 14 typical for Fourier processing of the record 13 obtained in in the polariscope 1 to complete the second step of strain analysis. 
     The coherent light beam from the pinhole 15 (or from the laser apparatus; in this case either the apparatus must be capable to produce monochromatic light of varying wavelength or four different apparati are provided producing light of wavelengths λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , λ 4 ) is collimated by the lens 16. 
     Then the beam passes through the slide 17 corresponding to the record 13 and, if necessary, a filter 18 transmitting wavelength λ i  only, where i=1,2,3,4. Thus, the electric vector of the transmitted light is proportional to f(x,y)=τtrig2θ or to f(x,y)=τ 1  trig2θ where trigx is either sin x or cos x. 
     In the focal plane of lens 19 where the Fourier transform f*(ξ,η) of the function f(x,y) is formed there is a filter 20 shown in details in the FIG. 5, which multiplies said transform by F(t)trig2β or by F(t)trig2β trig2β. This effect is discussed below in more details; F(t) is a certain function. 
     The lens 21 located one its focal distance farther on the optical axis inverses the product and the inverse can be either observed on the screen 22 or scanned or recorded on the plate or film. 
     The constant factors depending on the material properties and thickness of the coating, filter transmittance etc. being established by calibration the images on the screen 22 represent the original functions {L(x,y)} whose Fourier transforms are F(t)trig2βf*(ξ,η) or F(t)trig2β f*(ξ,η)trig2β. Thus, if F(t) represents either tcotht or a(t) or a 1  (t) the array {L(x,y)} generated as a result of an appropriate number of experiments described above with the image 13 for different wavelengths, different trig-functions and different F(t) will contain according to the formulas (7)-(12) all the functions necessary to determine the strain components by scaling, addition and/or subtraction of said functions. For example, if ##EQU4## then 
     
         ω(x,y,0)=L.sub.1 (x,y)-L.sub.2 (x,y) 
    
     Thus the present invention enables one to determine ε,τ cos 2θ, τ sin 2θ and ω on the surface of the prototype and/or the strains averaged over the coating depth for the case of an &#34;infinite&#34; photoelastic coating. 
     We return now to the FIG. 5 depicting a filter 20 for the producing cos 2β sin 2βF(t)f*(ξ,η) where F(t) is a given function and f*(ξ,η) is formed in the plane of filter 20. The fact that the described simple Fourier transformer 19 may produce f*(-ξ,-η) has no bearing because the factors F(t) and trig2β are symmetrical regarding the optical axis. Layers 30-35 of the filter 20 are assumed to be infinitesimal which practically can be achieved using thin film technology. Said layers are very closely spaced or bonded together or coated over as thin films. However, they are shown apart in the FIG. 5 to facilitate the explanation of their performance. 
     The layer 30 is a density filter whose transmittance is proportional to the function F(ρh), where ρ is a distance from the given point of the layer 30 to the optical axis. The amplitude of the light electric vector at the point (ξ,η) after the ray passes the layer 30 will be F(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     The polarizing filter 31 whose polarization plane is horizontal and contains the optical axis, transmits only the horizontal component of the electric vector. 
     The next polarizing filter 32 at each point thereof polarizes light in a plane containing this point and the optical axis which is indicated by arrows. Thus, the vertical component of the electric vector after the ray passes the filter 32 will be proportional to sin β cos βF(t)f*(ξ,η) or to sin 2βF(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     This component is separated by the polarizing filter 33 whose polarization plane is vertical which is indicated by arrows. 
     Similarly, the filter 34 at each point thereof the polarization plane is parallel to the optical axis and is inclined counterclockwise (or clockwise) at 45° to the radius at given point (ξ,η) which is indicated by arrows, transforms the electric vector as to its horizontal component will be proportional to sin (45°+β) cos (45°+β)F(t)f*(ξ,η) sin 2β or to cos 2β sin 2βF(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     This horizontal component is separated by the filter 35 whose polarization plane is horizontal as indicated by the arrows. 
     The filters 35,34,33,32,31,30 may be coated in the stated order on the transparent substrate 36. 
     If the filter 34 is changed to another filter identical to the filter 31 then the composite filter 20 will produce sin  2  2βF(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     If the filter 31 is changed to the filter identical to the filter 34 then the composite filter 20 will produce cos  2  2βF(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     If there are no filters 34 and 35 the composite filter 20 produces sin 2βF(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     If there are no filters 31 and 32 the composite filter 20 produces cos 2βF(t)f*(ξ,η). 
     When the photoelastic coating dimensions are of the same order as the dimensions of its bonded to prototype area the array {L(x,y)} relates to A- and B-potentials defined as follows: ##EQU5## Here, Ω is the domain of the photoelastic coating, r=((x-x 1 ) 2  +(y-y 1 ) 2 )1/2, φ=arc cos ((x-x 1 )/r). Namely, the same combination of L-functions that would yield ε for an &#34;infinite&#34; coating in this case produces an A-potential, and the combination of L-functions that would yield ω for the &#34;infinite&#34; coating will produce the B-potential. This information greatly reduces computations needed for the strain separation using photoelastic coatings. 
     If only ε and ω or A- and B-potentials are the subject of analysis a simplified embodiment of the present invention will suffice. In this embodiment instead of the filter 3 a filter 40 transmitting the rays of two different wavelengths their polarization planes comprising a 45 angle is used and instead of the filter 11 another filter 40 rotated by 90 is applied. The photoelastic coating 6 may have no dichroic filter. The filters 20 needed in this embodiment are only those which produce sin 2βf*(ξ,η) and cos 2βf*(ξ,η). 
     If the material properties of the prototype and/or some additional information on the coating deformation is available still another (third) embodiment is capable to produce L-functions needed for the determination of strains on the prototype surface. Said third embodiment is essentially the same as the simplified (second) embodiment regarding the reflection polariscope 1 and the photoelastic coating 6 and is essentially the same as the first embodiment regarding the filters 20 of the Fourier processor 14.