A new processing algorithm for photoelasticity method data

The photoelasticity method is a reliable tool for studying the stress state of flat elements in building structures using the models made of optically sensitive materials. In this paper, the classical photoelasticity is considered. The experimental data obtained with the use of the method are presented as interferograms. A decoding procedure implies the obtaining of some normal and tangential stress values in the plane of the model. The polarization-projection installations that are used in optical methods are rather simple. However, the digital processing of the images obtained during the loaded model transmission requires high-intelligent software. Nowadays, national and international laboratories, working with polarization-optical methods, strive to develop digital photoelasticity. For some reasons, the authors of the presented work needed to develop their own algorithms for decoding experimental data of the photoelasticity method. This work is mainly devoted to a formulation of the problems to be solved. Some of them have already been solved, and the results obtained are presented here. The authors place special emphasis on the description of the algorithm for tracing of interference fringes based on the analysis of the image gradient.