Computerized fringe analysis in photomechanics

A generalized method is presented for analyzing the fringe patterns frequently encountered in experimental mechanics. By utilizing digital-image-processing and computer-graphics techniques, a set of menu-driven software is developed for interactively implementing the fringe processing. Tests of this software on the images obtained experimentally by photoelasticity, holographic interferometry and speckle interferometry demonstrate its usefulness. Good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results is established.