Polarization Optical Sensor for Dynamical Deformation Measurements on 1-D or 2-D Mechanical Structures

An optical technique based on light polarization is implemented for real-time distortion measurement on mechanical structures. The method uses a polarization gradient encoding on coherent light beam to produce an absolute reference scale. In order to test the performances of the device, a series of well-controlled distortions on a simple aluminum bar have been successfully reconstructed. This optical sensor is part of a global project for the development of a device for active distortion compensation on electronically steered radar antennas.