ME321A Lab : Experimental Stress Analysis

Experiment No.4 : Photoelasticity

vikaskok@iitk.ac.in
August 12, 2019

Lab report guidelines.

§Theory
• Write a short note (3 to 4 lines) on Polarisation.
• Write a short note on Waveplates and Birefringence.
§Experiment Part 1 of 2 : To determine the fringe constant, fσ of the birefringent material Homolite.

The analytical formula for stresses induced in X1 − X2 plane of a diametrically compressed disc (shown in Fig.1)
is given by:
−2P cosθ1 sin2 θ1 cosθ2 sin2 θ2
 
2P
σ11 = + + (1)
πt r1 r2 πDt
−2P cos3 θ1 cos3 θ2
 
2P
σ22 = + + (2)
πt r1 r2 πDt
2P cos2 θ1 sinθ1 cos2 θ2 sinθ2
 
σ12 = − (3)
πt r1 r2
Where P is the load applied and r1 , r2 , θ1 , θ2 are as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Qn.1 Show that:

q
σ1 − σ2 = 2
(σ11 − σ22 )2 + 4σ12 (4)

Hint: Recall that in 2 − D (Plane Stress Condition) Principal Stresses (σ1 , σ2 ) are the Eigenvalues of
 
σ11 σ12
[σ] =
σ12 σ22

1
 Qn.2 Using equations (1,2,3,4), evaluate (σ1 − σ2 ) at the following points on the disc.
P
Hint: You should obtain expression in the form k( πRt ), k ∈ R

Coordinate (X1,X2) (σ1 − σ2 )

(0,0)
( R4 ,0)
( R2 ,0)
( 3R
4 ,0)
(R,0)

Qn.3 Using Vernier Callipers, measure the thickness and diameter of the disc.
Thickness, t = mm
Diameter, D = mm
Qn. 4 Recall the experiment performed in the lab using the circular polariscope setup. Using the expressions
obtained in Qn. 2 and Stress Optic Law, find fσ .
Stress Optic Law:
nfσ
σ1 − σ2 = (5)
t
Coordinate Load, P(N) Fringe Order, n (σ1 − σ2 ) Analytical fσi
( R4 ,0)
( R2 ,0)
( R4 ,0)

Σfσi
fσ = = (6)
Σi
— End of Part 1 of the experiment. —
§Experiment Part 2 of 2 :
Consider the beam under 4 point loading as shown in the Fig. 2

Figure 2
Qn.5(a) Using Vernier Callipers/Scale, measure the geometric dimensions of the beam.
Length, L = mm
Height, 2H = mm
Width, B = mm
Qn.5(b) Draw the FBD of the beam.

2
Qn.6 Draw the Shear Force Diagram (SFD) and Bending Moment Diagram (BMD) for this beam. Check if
the region between points A and B is subjected to Pure bending.

Qn.7 Find (σ1 − σ2 ) analytically at point (0, H 2 ) for the load corresponding to fringe order 1 and 2. Show
calculations and fill up the corresponding cells in the table below.
Hint: From Euler Bernoulli approximate beam theory, you know that Bending Stress is given by σb = −M b y
ICSA where
the symbols have their usual meaning. Also recall that under pure bending (ie Shear Force, V = 0) σ1 = σb and
σ2 = 0 .
Qn.8 Using Stress Optic Law, find (σ1 − σ2 ) at point (0, H2 ) corresponding to fringe order (n) 1 and 2. Show
calculations and fill up the corresponding cells in the table below. Use fσ value obtained in Part 1 of the experiment.

Coordinate Load, P(N) Fringe Order, n (σ1 − σ2 ) (σ1 − σ2 )

using EB Experimental
beam theory.
(0, H2 )
(0, H2 )

Qn.9 Find y coordinate which corresponds to n = 0 fringe.

Hint: You may use (σ1 − σ2 ) expressions from EB beam theory and Stress-Optic Law.