The use of precision castings in the three-dimensional photoelastic analysis of threaded tubular connections

A new, room-temperature formulated, epoxy-resin system with superior stress-freezing photoelastic properties is presented. The ease of producing relatively large, high-quality, precision castings is discussed. Stress-optical, rheological, and mechanical properties are given. Cylindrical tubes joined by integrally cast Stub Acme and American Standard rolled thread profiles with typical geometric parameters are loaded in tension and analyzed using the stressfreezing method. Results are presented for surface axial stress distributions for the wall surfaces opposite the threaded profiles. Additionally, the fillet stress distribution for the first engaged thread as a function of the distance along the thread helix from the location of initial contact is presented. Comparison with a finite-element analysis is given. Paper was presented at the 1983 SEM Spring Conference on Experimental Mechanics held in Cleveland, OH on May 15–19.