Evaluation of the variable order of singularities by pseudocaustics

An experimental technique based on the optical method of pseudocaustics was developed for the evaluation of the order of singularity for singular elastic fields. According to this method, the mapping of an infinitesimal circle close to the singularity into an infinitesimal ellipse by means of the pseudocaustics may be used for evaluating directly the stress singularity. An experimental procedure and a numerical scheme were used for accurately defining the order of singularity. Results with variable values of stress singularities indicate the potentialities of the method.