Towards an acoustoelastic theory for measurement of residual stress

The rudiments of an acoustoelastic theory is developed within the framework of linear elasticity with initial stress. Since no assumption is made about the origin of the initial stress, our acoustoelastic theory will be applicable to evaluation of stress in plastically deformed bodies, provided that the superimposed ultrasonic waves be hyperelastic. New universal relations are deduced. An approach to evaluation of stress which does not use calibration specimens and makes full use of universal relations in our acoustoelastic theory is advocated. Examples are given which illustrate application of our theory to evaluate residual stress in plates. Preliminary corroborations of our theory are provided by the recent experiments of King & Fortunko and Thompson et al.