Measurement of the stress state of materials by reflection of polarization-modulated light

Abstract

A method for measuring mechanical stresses of photoelastic materials from the difference between the reflection coefficients of orthogonally polarized light waves incident on the surface of the stressed medium is considered. Comparative results of measurements of the stress state of polymethylmethacrylate in the conventional transmission polarization optical scheme and by the proposed refraction method are presented. A case of normal light incidence is considered.