Contact stress of O-ring under uniform squeeze rate by photoelastic experimental hybrid method

Abstract

In this paper, photoelastic experimental hybrid methods using the external traction free boundary condition and that using the relative equation of two stress functions in contact problems are developed. The validities of these two methods are confirmed through experiments and discussions. Hertz’s contact theory and the two photoelastic experimental hybrid methods explained are applied to the analysis of the contact stress of an O-ring under 10% or 20% squeeze rate. The photoelastic experimental hybrid method using the relative equation of two stress functions in contact problems was found to be more effective. When the squeeze rates of an O-ring were 10% or 20%, the maximum of absolute σx was greater than the maximum of absolute σy, but was almost equal. Maximums of absolute τxy were 1/8 of absolute σx and 1/5 of absolute σx when the squeeze rates of the O-ring were 10% and 20%, respectively.