#7 Beam Analysis Using Photoelastic Methods - Lab Report Example

Photoelasticity method is depended on the birefringence property that is shown by the transparent materials. Birefringence involves the property in which light rays are passed through a birefringent material of two refractive indices. This property has been seen in different optical crystals. When the stress is applied, the photoelastic material will show the birefringence property. The potential of the refractive index in each material section would be directly linked to the stresses in the given point.

The term photoelasticity is a reflection of nature in this technique. Photo means the utility of light rays together with the optical techniques. Elasticity shows the elastic body deformation and stresses study in elastic bodies. In this respect, light rays are classified as electromagnetic vibrations that do travel in the form of waves. The vibrations are linked to the light that is perpendicular to the light travel direction or the propagation. The source of light gives out a wave train that contains the vibrations in planes that are perpendicular.

Through the introduction of the polarized filter in the travel path, a single component of the vibrations would be transmitted using the filter considered being parallel to the axis. The organized light is referred to as polarized light. When anotherpolarised filter referred to as the analyzer is put on its way, there would be a total light beam extinction of the beam of light which can be obtained if the two filter axis is perpendicular to one another. In many cases, light may travel in a vacuum or through air at a speed equivalent to 3 x 10 ^10 cm/sec.

For the different transparent materials, the light speed v is minimum. In this case, the ration n=C/V is referred to as the refraction index. In bodies that are homogenous, the index would be constant despite the travel direction and the plane vibration. For the bodies that are homogenous the index is depended on the become optically heterogeneous