Holographic and electronic speckle pattern interferometry applied to the measurement of static and dynamic mechanical properties of elastomers

Taking as its starting point a holographic interferometric technique, used to measure the static and dynamic bulk moduli of elastomers, this thesis describes the progression of research aimed at extending the range and nature of these measurements. The use of Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (E.S.P.I) as an alternative optical technique is described. The use of amplitude and phase modulation within this interferometer is also described. These modulation techniques are shown to be advantageous in manipulating fringe distributions making data extraction easier and more accurate. This allows measurement, over an extended frequency range, of the pressure and temperature dependence of bulk moduli and also Young's moduli for elastomer samples. The visco-elastic components of these moduli are also investigated by using E.S.P.I. to measure the loss component tan σ of the vibrational response of the elastomer.