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.