Photoelasticity

Photoelasticity

Photo-elasticity is a visual
technique for measuring
stresses. When a photo elastic
material is strained and viewed
under polarized light, beautifully
colored pattern can be observed.
This colored pattern provides
information on stress-state of the
strained material.
 Photoelasticity

Plane Polariscope
It consists of two linear polarizer (which transmit light only along their axis of
polarization) and a light source. The linear polarizer nearest the light source is
called the polarizer, while the second linear polarizer is known as the analyzer.
 Photoelasticity

Circular Polariscope
This polariscope employs circularly polarized light. The photo elastic apparatus
contains four optical elements and a light source.
 Photoelasticity

Visualization of stresses in a straight beam subjected to four point bending.

 Photoelasticity

Experimental setup

· Light source emits light waves vibrating in infinite number of planes.

· Polarization Filter (Polarizer): Polarizer restricts the vibration of light waves
to a single plane.

Click START.
 Photoelasticity

Experimental setup

Analyzer
· Analyzer: Second polarizer used to analyze polarized light passed through
material in testing. Doubly refracting lights which passed through the
birefringent are resolved by analyzer. Speed difference in the refracting
lights causes that a certain color from the light disappears (wave shift).
 Photoelasticity

How to determine stress?

Solution
When stressed, some transparent materials behave as bifringent
material.
The speeds of the refracted lights are directly proportional to the
principal stresses σ1 and σ 2, major and minor principal stresses,
respectively.
 Photoelasticity

Test Specimen
Support Support

Sample specimen
Dimensions

Four point Bending

• The straight beam is subjected to tranverse loading.The beam is

supported at two ends and downward load is applied at the two
points shown in figure.
 Photoelasticity

Start
The Forces acting various sections are indicated
as shown in the figure.
Click to start
animation.
 Photoelasticity

Due to application of load the beam is subjected to bending in

the transverse plane. The red lines indicate the new position of
the beam.
Interpretation of 2-D photoelastic fringe patterns is based on
the stress-optic law:
σ1- σ2 = (N *Fσ )/b
Where b is thickness of photo elastic model.
 Photoelasticity

Calculation of material
fringe order.

σ1- σ2 = (N *Fσ )/b

Hence fs can be determined by plotting the

quantity Z versus the fringe order, N
 Photoelasticity

2D Photo Elastic fringes under exposure of monochromatic light.

 Photoelasticity

Photo elasticity is the phenomenon of

-------------------------------------

Elastic behaviour of material in lighting conditions.

 inducing birefringence in a substance through the application of a

stress system.

Bending stresses and shear stress determination using light

 Normal stresses
 Photoelasticity

What does Δn represent in the equation for the

Stress-Optic Law?
a Thickness of material
b Stress-Optical coeffcient
c Birefringence
d Stress
 Photoelasticity

The color pattern indicate the ---------------------- of

the stressed material?

oStress

obifrigence

opolarization of light

ostrain
 Photoelasticity

What are the quantities on the axes of a Michel-Levy chart?

a Retardation against thickness of specimen

b Birefringence against thickness of specimen

c Birefringence against time

d Retardation against time

 Photoelasticity

What is the difference between isochromatic and isoclinic fringes?

a Isochromatic fringes are obtained using monochromatic light, whereas isoclinic fringes

are obtained using white light.

b Isoclinic fringes are obtained when the principal stress direction coincides with the

polarisation of the polariser; isochromatic fringes are lines of constant stress difference.

c Isochromatic and isoclinic fringes occur in different types of plastic.

d Isoclinic fringes are lines of constant stress difference; isochromatic fringes are

obtained when the principal stress direction coincides with the polarisation of the

polariser.
 Photoelasticity

Resources

Books:
Experimental Stress Analysis. Second Edition
Dally, J W | Riley, W F
McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1978, pp. 571, 1978
Reference Links:
http://dynamark-engineering.com/services/matproptest/ESA.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoelasticity#References
www3.ntu.edu.sg/.../photoelasticity/index.html