Holographic Interferometry has been successfully employed to characterize the materials and behavior of diverse types of structures under stress. Such applications of holographic technique offer some of the most effective methods of dynamic structural analysis available. Real-time dynamic testing of aerodynamic control structures for advanced missiles systems has always required advanced instrumentation for data collection in either actual flight test or wind-tunnel simulations. Advanced optical holography techniques are alternate, non-invasive methods which define actual behavioral data on the ground. These methods offer significant insight in both the development and subsequent operational test and modeling of advanced composite control structures and their integration with total vehicle system dynamics. Structures and materials can be analyzed with very low level stresses and the resultant data used to determine operational acceptance and adjust the accuracy of mathematically derived structural models.
Holographic Interferometry has offered a powerful tool to aid in the primary engineering and development of advanced complex composite materials. One such material is a graphite-epoxy fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite. This type of material is finding increased use in advanced aerodynamic, automotive, and other highly mobile platforms. Smart weapon and missile control structure applications especially, must consider environments where extremes in vibration and mechanical stresses can affect both operation and structural stability. These are ideal requisites for analysis using advanced holographic methods in the initial design and subsequent test of such advanced structures and materials. Specialized variations of holographic technology have also been applied to define dynamic and vibration related structural behavior This has been particularly useful in characterizing dynamic parameters of advanced components composed of composite materials. Holographic methods are nondestructive, real-time, and definitive in allowing the identification of minute displacements, and motion geometries. Such effects are directly indicative of various types of induced mechanical, thermal, and acoustic structural stress related to hidden structural anomalies and defects. Such information is often crucial to the determination of mechanical configurations and designs as well as operational parameters of structures composed of advanced engineering materials.