Determining reliable edge isopachic data from interior thermoelastic measurements

The maximum stresses in a plane-stressed component typically occur on the boundary. However, it is generally difficult to obtain reliable experimental data at an edge and thermoelastic stress analysis is no exception. The inability to measure reliable edge isopachic stresses has caused many previous thermoelastic stress analyses to be more qualitative than quantitative. This paper develops and implements an effective iterative least-squares method for calculating reliable edge isopachic stresses from measured interior values. The method is based upon the plane-stress isotropic compatibility equation. A regularization scheme is employed to minimize the sensitivity to measurement error and to improve the stability of the algorithm by controlling the rate of convergence. An illustrative example with actual measured thermoelastic data is included. The processes thermoelastically determined results compare well with those obtained using strain gages.Paper was presented at the 1994 SEM Spring Conference held in Baltimore, MD on June 6–8.