• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.437-441
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• 2001

This paper describes the construction of a circular polariscope. Generally, a circular polariscope contains four optical elements and a light source. The first element following the light source is called the polarizer. It converts the ordinary light into plane-polarized light. The second element is a quarter wave plate which converts the plane-polarized light into circularly polarized light. Following the quarter wave plate, a specimen made of transparent photoelastic material is located in a loading device. The second quarter wave plate is set and the last element is the analyzer. These polarizing elements, two quarter wave plates and two polarizing filters, were purchased from the USA. Frames and other structures for holding polarizing filters were machined and assembled to be rotated. Light box, which include four incandescent lamps and two sodium-vapor lamps, was made. In order to proof the function of the newly built polariscope, Tardy compensation test was applied to a rectangular shaped specimen made of poly-carbonate material (PSM1). The error of the fringe constant, which was measured by the newly built polariscope, was within 4.4 percent compared to the standard value of this material. It is possible to make a good quality of polariscope if accurate polarizing filters will be used.