Phase-shifting methodologies in photoelastic analysis—the application of Jones calculus

The potential of digital image processing hardware to record intensity data at video rates has resulted in a new approach for data collection. Efforts were aimed at evaluating isochromatic and isoclinic fringe orders quantitatively by processing the intensity data recorded. These methodologies have come to be known as phase-shifting techniques. The various phase-shifting algorithms in photoelasticity are surveyed and a comparative study is done. The use of Jones calculus to understand these methodologies is brought out. An attempt has been made to identify the reason for loss of accuracy in evaluating the field parameters in stress concentration zones.