NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF BONDED METALLIC/ELASTOMERIC INTER FACES BY OPTICAL SHEAROGRAPHY

IT IS PROPOSED TO EXPLORE A NEW OPTICAL APPROACH REFERRED TO AS SHEAROGRAPHY FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF BONDED METALLIC/ELASTOMERIC INTERFACES. SHEAROGRAPHY IS EQUIVALENT TO A FULL-FIELD STRAIN GAGE; IT REVEALS DEFECTS BY LOOKING FOR DEFECT-INDUCED STRAIN ANOMALIES. THIS APPROACH IS SUPERIOR TO OTHER TECHNIQUES IN THAT IT ALLOWS DEFECT CRITICALITY TO BE QUANTIFIED. MOREOVER, IT IS A FAST, NON-CONTACTING, AND FULL-FIELD METHOD. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP SHEAROGRAPHY TO BECOME A GENERAL PURPOSE NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION TOOL.