Project Title:

ADJACENT PAIR IMAGING SHEAROGRAPHY (APIS) USING THE ERASABLE MATERIAL BACTERIORHODOPSIN

  94-1		13.04	0324

  ADJACENT PAIR IMAGING SHEAROGRAPHY (APIS) USING                THE ERASABLE 
  MATERIAL BACTERIORHODOPSIN

Abstract:

Full field, Shearographic NDE provides real time imaging capabilities, but at the expense 
of poor resolution, leading to less than optimum inspection. To address this need, Rice 
Systems proposes the development of a unique Adjacent Pair Imaging Shearography (APIS) 
for NDE of spacecraft structires and pressure vessel integrity, using the new organic 
photopolymer bacteriorhodopsin. Though Shearography has the capability of imaging effects 
of stress and fatigue, such as corrosion, delaminations, and impact damage in composite 
materials, conventional instrumentation relies on CCD-based imaging, which provides only 80 lines/mm 
resolution. Bacteriorhodopsin has been demonstrated as an erasable holographic material 
capable of recording a continuous sequence of interferograms with a resolution of 5000 
lines/mm. APIS would combine the success of Shearographic NDE with bacteriorhodopsin-based 
imaging to produce more efficient, real time, full field NDE, with up to 60 times higher 
resolution. Phase I will establish feasibility and design specifications for Phase II development 
of commercially viable instrumentation.

The higher resolution, and therefore more efficient inspection offered by the APIS System would 
translate into improved safety and reliability, and the reduced maintenance costs for Aging 
Aircraft, Process and Quality Control, and NDT Service Companies. In addition, APIS 
Shearography could be applied to new markets such as the medical and electronics industries 
by virtue of higher resolution inspection capabilities.

Key Words

RICE SYSTEMS
18198 AZTEC CT.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CA 92708