<title>Photoelastic measurements based on a phase-stepping imaging polarimetry technique</title>

Abstract

In last years many algorithms and techniques based on whole field polarimetry has been presented. Most of them could be applied in photoelasticity. In this paper we propose a method supported with digital image processing that makes the evaluation of photoelastic patterns simpler. The phase retardation and the azimuth angle induced by photoelastic sample were measured using phase stepping imaging polarimetry technique. Some approaches taken from phase stepping technique were used to minimize number of data needed to calculate two maps of the phase retardation and the azimuth angle. In contrary to other methods this technique offers simple setup, few moving parts and fast acquisition of data. The theory and experimental results are included in the paper.