Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9521533 | Cold Regions Science and Technology | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
An instrument1 which exploits geometric optics was devised to measure the thickness of slabs of optically transparent material such as Plexiglas or freshwater ice using a high-intensity light source. The apparatus consisting of a prism, a micrometer single-axis translation stage, and an optical spectrometer measures the spatial span between two chosen Fraunhofer line wavelengths in the prism-refracted visible spectrum reflected through the test slab. This span was found to be proportional to slab thickness. Measurements were made on various thicknesses of Plexiglas sheets ranging from 8 to 49 mm thick as well as nearly-bubble-free macrocrystalline freshwater ice in the thicknesses ranging from 28 to 53 mm thick. Results indicated a linear relationship between spectral span and slab thickness. This device may be suitable for detecting and measuring point-location ice thickness on aircraft wings, as well as for other industrial and research purposes.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth and Planetary Sciences (General)
Authors
Norbert E. Yankielun, Charles C. Ryerson, Allison Crocker,