Photoelastic investigation of a shrink-fit problem

Stress analysis of the components of a shrinkfit assembly has been carried out by the three-dimensional photoelastic technique. Experimental results obtained from the analysis of a typical shrink-fit assembly, wherein a cylindrical wheel is shrink fitted onto a hollow cylindrical hub in an asymmetrical position. Photoelastic models made from hot-setting Araldite B were loaded at the critical temperature in a stress-freezing oven and the meridional and the hoop slices were observed in a transmission polariscope. It is concluded from this investigation that the bending induced in the components due to the asymmetrical placement of the wheel and the contact shear at the interface influences the stress distribution quite considerably. Also, the dimensions of the components in the axial direction have an influence on the mode and contribute to the magnitude of the variation of stress components.