Photoelasticity with additional physical fields and optically active models

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to enlarge the class of three-dimensional stress distributions which can be investigated in a transmission polariscope. The experimental data are shown to contain more information about the stress distribution on the wave normal if the rotation of the principal axes or that of the plane of polarization is induced. This can be obtained by additional physical fields or by using optically active models. Three examples are described. First, an exact theory for investigating bending stresses in plates by the aid of prefrozen models has been developed and applied to evaluate the experimental data. Second, the application of the magnetophotoelastic method to determine stress-concentration factors by cylindrical bending of plates is considered. Third, a nonlinear stress distribution along the wave normal has been determined experimentally in an optically active model.