Experiment 3: Photoelastic Experiments with a Transmitted Polariscope

Group Members: Kurt Schneider, Exson Banuelos, Freddy Rojas

February 24, 2014
Professor Peter Vorobief
TA: Miquela Trujillo, Francisco Vigil
ME318L Monday Section

Abstract
To start, this lab had a few key objectives that set the foundation for performing photoelastic experiments. The first
was to become familiar with a transmitted-light polariscope. This apparatus allows one to observe the effects of
loading a force on a specimen. Various shapes and characteristics of a specimen were to be tested to understand how
their stress concentrations varied as well as their internal isochromates.

Table of Contents
I.

Introduction

II.

Theory

A.

Nomenclature

Experimental Setup

III.
A.
IV.
V.

Equipment Used

3
3

Procedure

Data

VI.

Results

VII.

Conclusion

VIII.

References

List of Figures
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List of Tables

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I.

Introduction

A Photoelastic experiment is practically an effortless method that is used to study stress concentrations on irregular
geometries with or without discontinuities. This practice helps avoid the cumbersome details of a mathematical
model and derivation. Photoelasticity by definition is the phenomenon of double refraction of polarized light by a
transparent substance under elastic stress, used to measure strain in elastic, transparent materials. Scottish physicist
David Brewster was the first to describe this phenomenon. However its implementations werent used until the
1930s with the development of new scientific equipment.
The primary tool used in photoelasticity is a transmitted-light polariscope. This instrument projects light to a
transparent material and utilizes the fact that a ray of light may be double refracted within the specimen upon
loading. Through observation with the polariscope, an isotropic material (uniform in all directions) may change the
molecular structure within and act optically anisotropic. The effect of double refraction disappears when the load is
removed.

Figure 1. Transmitted-Light Polariscope

As the material is being loaded, the temporary double refraction produces interference bands known as
iscochromates. Iscochromates are the stress gradients that are observed as continuous lines alternating between light
and dark. These band form patterns across the specimen according to its regular or irregular geometry. If these bands
are closely spaced together, this implies a high region of stress within the material. Low regions of stress correspond
widely spaced isochormates.

II.

Theory

A. Nomenclature
A=Cross-Sectional Area (units of area)

P=Applied Load (units of forces)

=Stress (units of force/area)

To begin, as noted above an isochromate is a visual indication of an area under stress. Stress is a simple formulation
of a load acting on a cross sectional area. This is illustrated by the formula below:

P
A

(1)

Regions of high stress concentration tend to form around discontinuities in the geometry. In the book Mechanics of
Materials, Russell Hibbeler similarly states if the bar has a reduction in its cross section, such as fillets, then again
the maximum stress in the bar will occur at the smallest cross-sectional area (158). The stress distribution of a
figure with a notch is displayed below.

Figure 2. Stress Distribution in Vicinity of Hole

Because the cross sectional area is inversely proportional to the stress, a reduction in area will increase the sigma
value. The area around fillets and rounds of a material tend to be the smallest cross sectional area. Consequently the
intensity of isochromates is higher around these areas. Where the area is uniform, the intensity of isochromates is
much lower.

III.

Experimental Setup

A. Equipment Used

Light source
Two polarization filters
Two quarter wave filters
Load frame
Various models
Models A-D
Mounting Brackets

Figure 3. Models A-D

Procedure

IV.

V.

Data

VI.

VII.

Results

Conclusion

VIII. References
1

Hibbeler, R. C. Mechanics of Materials. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.