The Photomechanics laboratory has a rich
history in the area of optical methods in stress analysis dating back to the
early 1960s. While the Laboratory still maintains an active capability in
holographic and moire interferometry, and photoelasticity, the focus of the
Photomechanics Laboratory has evolved in recent years. The late 1980s saw
Laboratory's research emphasis shift towards fiber optic sensors and photonics,
with particular emphasis on smart materials and structures applications.
This Laboratory is a 3,500ft2 facility, and is equipped with
five optical isolation tables, ten gas lasers ten diode lasers, and eight
broadband superfluorescent sources of various wavelengths and powers. The
facility also has a wide assortment of optical components and fixtures typical
of a modern laboratory, including personal computers for data acquisition, a
dedicated digital image processing workstation, and microscopes, translation
stages, lenses (and holders) and mirrors (and mounts), filters, in excess of ten
oscilloscopes, ten function generators, two electrical spectrum analyzers, many
AC and DC power supplies, analog filters, and other off-the-shelf electronic
components required to develop optical fiber sensor optoelectronic systems.
Commensurate with its strong history in fiber optic sensor development, the
Photomechanics Laboratry has a wide assortment of fiber optic instrumentation
and components, such as four fusion splicers, two optical spectrum analyzers,
one optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), several power meters, one erbium
doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), eight laser drivers/thermoelectric cooler
controllers, many couplers, modulators, photodetectors, etc. Chief among our
capabilities is a Bragg grating fabrication facility center around a frequency
doubled argon ion laser. The facility is housed in a 120 ft2 class 1000 clean
room. New facilities in Photomechanics Laboratory include a 92 ft2 anechoic
chamber and a hydrogen sensor test facility. The hydrogen sensor test facility
complete with a fume hood, gas leakage detectors tied to the University's
Central Monitoring Department, a cryostat with -427oF capability.
In addition to the above mentioned
facilities, the Photomechanics Laboratory includes a complete dark room, a small
machine shop, an electronics station for analog circuit prototyping, a
resistance strain gage station (we maintain a consistent activity in
experimental strain analysis using traditional transducers), and a small vacuum
hot press for composite laminate fabrication. The Photomechanics Laboratory has
22 Kip servohydraullic testing frame with hydraulic grips and personal computer
based system controller. In addition, the laboratory has an instrumented drop
tower, and an assortment of small dead-weight and hand-pump hydraulic test
frames.
