Determination of all stress components from measurements of the stress invariant by the thermoelastic stress method

A method for the resolution of all stress components from the first invariant J₁ measured by thermoelastic stress analyzer is described. This method may be used to determine, not only surface stress, but also internal stress and stress on the underside.The method is based on the following procedure:

1. (1) Pick an arbitrary domain Ω, within the structure, for which the stresses are required.

2. (2) Measure J₁ on the surface of Ω.

3. (3) Determine the optimum traction along the boundary Γ, which is a part of Ω, by the least squares method such that the difference between the measured J₁ and the calculated J₁ is at a minimum. Either FEM or BEM may be used for this calculation.

Examples of stress resolution for a two-dimensional stress concentration problem and a three-dimensional stress concentration problem are shown. The accuracy of the stress resolution is discussed.