Optical modal analysis using white-light projected fringes

This paper describes a non-contacting optical technique for vibration measurement, which can be used to determine the magnitude and phase of every point of a continuous surface under steady-state conditions. In this method, the vibrating surface to be studied is illuminated by a white-light, sinusoidal grating projected from an oblique angle. A series of precisely timed digital images of the vibrating object is recorded as the grid is moved across the surface. An automated analysis then extracts magnitude and phase data at each pixel in the recorded images. The use of white light makes it possible to study the motion of larger surfaces than might be conveniently possible with more conventional Moiré or holographic techniques, and the optical arrangement used seems relatively insensitive to external disturbances. The method seems particularly well suited to the study of structures undergoing relatively low-frequency, large-amplitude vibrations.