Preparation of Materials for Composite Photoelastic Models

For composite structural problems, modulus of elasticity may vary appreciably for different material zones. For example, a concrete dam founded on faulted or layered rock, a steel-framed building resting on a soil foundation or the bone-flesh interaction problem in biomechanics. For the exact representation of a composite structure, photoelastic materials of the same modular ratios as in the prototype should be used, provided such materials are available.     

Strain Measurements of Silicon Dioxide Microspecimens by Digital Imaging Processing

Silicon dioxide thin film is a common component in electronic devices and in MEMS, but its mechanical properties have rarely been studied. Techniques have been adapted and developed to conduct tensile tests on 1.0 μm thick silicon dioxide specimens that are 100, 150, and 200 μm wide and either 1 or 2 mm long. One end of the specimen remains fastened to the substrate, and the other is glued to a silicon carbide fiber attached to a 30 g load cell mounted on a piezoelectric translation stage. Strain is measured by digital imaging of two gold lines applied to the gage section of the transparent specimen. Twenty-five tests yield a Young’s modulus of 60.1 ± 3.4 GPa and a fracture strength of 364 ± 57 MPa.     

A Non-linear Algorithm of Photoelastic Tomography for the Axisymmetric Problem

A non-linear algorithm of photoelastic tomography for the measurement of axisymmetric stress fields has been elaborated. It is free of any assumptions concerning the value of the birefringence or rotation of the principal stress axes along the light rays. The algorithm is based on the measurement of characteristic directions and phase retardation in two parallel sections of the test object. Stress components are presented in the form of power series along the radial coordinate. A differential evolution algorithm has been used for finding the stress field parameters, which fit the measurement data best. Application of the method is illustrated by residual stress measurement in a drinking glass.     

Photoelastic stress analysis of a V-shaped die for plastic work

The stress state in the V-shaped die for plastic compression was investigated by using a photoelastic stress analysis in which an Araldite in a glassy elastic state and a softened celluloid were used as model materials for the die and work specimen, respectively. It was found that the direction of the frictional shear stress is reversed at a certain point on the die surface. Because the frictional shear stress of the die mainly depends on the flow speed of the work material, the popular assumption that the coefficient of friction is a constant over the die surface such as in the case of Coulomb friction appears unrealistic.     

Photoelastic experimental hybrid method for fracture mechanics of anisotropic materials

In this paper, the isotropic and anisotropic photoelastic experimental hybrid methods for fracture mechanics are developed. Using the photoelastic experimental hybrid method, it is demonstrated that one can precisely obtain stress intensity factors and separate the stress components of isotropic and anisotropic plate problems from the only isochromatics.     

Photoelastic and finite-element analysis of a quadripartite vault

A lively controversy exists in the architectural historical literature concerning the functional role of many Gothic cathedral structural elements. The most complex of these is the ribbed vault which has never before been fully analyzed. A 1∶50 scale model of two bays of the choir vaulting of Cologne Cathedral, constructed of cast epoxy, was tested. In addition, a finite-element analysis, based on the photo-elastic-model geometry, was performed. Stress resultants and reactions predicted by the two approaches are compared and the technical significance of the ribbed-vault form in Gothic construction is examined.     

Photoelastic and holographic analysis of a turbine-engine component

Isopachics obtained by holographic methods are combined with the isochromatics and isoclinics of a conventional photoelastic analysis to obtain a complete two-dimensional stress analysis of a highly critical region of a jet engine. The analysis of the disk/blade dovetail region of the third stage fan of a turbine engine shows a stress-concentration factor of 5.2 in the disk fillet and 4.8 in the blade fillet relative to the average stress in the neck section of the disk. The stress distribution along the edge of the blade fillet and on an interior line in the disk lug is also reported. Preliminary redesign of the disk fillet indicates that a 27-percent reduction in the fillet stress of existing third-stage disks is possible by remachining the relief area between the blade and disk lugs.     

Photoelastic and strain-gage investigation of penetration of thin plates

An experimental investigation of the central normal impact and penetration of plates of Columbia Resin No. 39, simply supported at the corners, was conducted using both photoelastic and strain-gage techniques. Both conically-pointed and blunt-nosed steel projectiles of 1/4-in. diam were employed at initial velocities ranging from 191 to 272 fps. Sequences of fringe photographs were obtained by repeating shots on different plates, using various predetermined time intervals between impact and photograph. A dynamic value of Young's modulus has been calculated from the velocity of propagation of tension waves, and a strain-optic coefficient of 398 microinches per fringe for the material was determined from a quasi-static test. Both fringe order and strain histories for various impact conditions have been ascertained and are compared.Paper was presented at 1961 SESA Spring Meeting held in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 10–12.     

Statistical Synthesis of Imaging and Porosimetry Data for the Characterization of Microstructure and Transport Properties of Sandstones

The microstructure of a suite of sandstone samples is quantitatively analyzed using a method which combines information from thin section micrographs of the pore space with mercury injection porosimetry in a statistical framework. This method enables the determination of a continuous distribution of pore sizes ranging from few nanometre to several hundred micrometre. The data obtained unify fractal and Euclidean aspects of the void space geometry, yield estimates of the pore-to-throat aspect ratio and challenge the ability of commonly used network models to describe fluid percolation in multiscale porous media. Application of critical path analysis to the prediction of flow permeability and electrical conductivity of sandstone core samples using the new information produces results comparable to those obtained by the classical approach—a fact attributed to the presence of macroscopic heterogeneity at the scale of several millimetres.     

Photoelastic validation of a theoretical solution for an edge cracked disk

In this paper, the theoretical solution developed by Vaughan and Wu for the stress analysis of a circular disk with a radial edge crack extending to its center is validated by photoelasticity. The photoelastic results include the fullfield isochromatics as well as measurements of the maximum shear stress at a number of test points. Additionally, the experimental stress intensity factor is extracted from the photoelastic data by Irwin's two-parameter method. Good agreement is observed when the theoretical stress field and stress intensity factor are compared with the experimental results. It is concluded that the Vaughan-Wu solution can be confidently applied in fracture mechanics analyses. The application of such a solution to the stress analysis of two-dimensional bodies with complex geometries subjected to complex loading is also noted.     

Phase-Multiplied Photoelastic and Series Interferometer Arrangement for Full-Field Stress Measurement in Single Crystals

A compact, phase-multiplied, circular polariscope and series interferometer arrangement is developed for high-resolution, full-field stress measurement in single crystals with weak piezo-optical coefficients. We present a general stress-optic law, derived from anisotropic piezo-optical constitutive relations, which provides the theoretical framework for obtaining stress field components from measured optical isoclinic, isochromatic and isopachic phase maps. A new phase image processing technique is also developed, which combines data obtained from different interference configurations for the successful removal of low-modulation zones within isoclinic and isopachic phase maps. The validity and accuracy of the proposed interferometer arrangement and stress measurement methodology are demonstrated through a compression test of a c-cut single crystal sapphire plate loaded by a cylindrical indenter.     

Characterization and Monitoring of Porous Media with Electrical Imaging: A Review

Transport in Porous Media - Electrical geophysical imaging is a widely used noninvasive technology for visualizing porous media at scales larger than individual pores. Originally developed for...     

Photoelastic study of centrifugal stresses in a single wheel and hub

Results of a photoelastic study of centrifugal stresses in a single wheel with integral hub are given. Stress distributions are determined on the bore and lateral surfaces, and on several radial interior lines. The results are compared with theoretical stresses.     

Coupled Strain and Fresnel Response of Photoelastic Coatings at Oblique Incidence

This paper presents a theoretical model and corresponding experimental results of the oblique-incidence response of a luminescent photoelastic coating (LPC). LPCs use a luminescent dye that both partially preserves the stress-modified polarization state and provides high emission signal strength at oblique surface orientations. These characteristics enable the technique to acquire full-field strain separated measurements and principal strain directions, potentially on complex three-dimensional geometries, without the use of supplemental experimental or analytical techniques. Results of a single-layer LPC on a disk in diametral compression are presented to assess a theoretical model and evaluate the measurement sensitivity.

Statistical Characterization of Heterogeneous Dissolution Rates of Calcite from In situ and Real-Time AFM Imaging

Transport in Porous Media - The evolution of the surface topography of a calcite crystal subject to dissolution is documented through in situ real-time imaging obtained via atomic force microscopy...     

Photoelastic analysis of a three-dimensional specimen by optical slicing and digital image processing

The authors show a nondestructive method for obtaining the isochromatic and isoclinic fringes in a three-dimensional photoelastic specimen. The basic idea is to delimit a slice between two plane laser beams. The properties of polarization of the scattered light (Rayleigh's law) and the interference possibilities of the diffused beams are used. By introducing speckle pattern properties, the correlation factor of the two scattered beams is similar to the illumination given in a plane polariscope for the investigation of a slice (in a classical frozen-stress technique). The authors use a monochromatic laser beam, a CCD camera and a personal computer. Because they cannot obtain the correlation factor directly, they do a statistical analysis of the speckle patterns. The variance (function of the correlation factor) is computed from the light intensities of three images corresponding to the speckle pattern for plane 1 alone, plane 2 alone, and both planes together.