The Photoelastic Analysis of Transverse Bending of Plates in the Standard Transmission Polariscope

Abstract

In this paper the ideas of three-dimensional photo-elasticity are applied to the analysis of plates under transverse bending, resulting in a simple photoelastic method, employing the standard two-dimensional transmission polariscope. The procedure used is to “freeze” a fairly high initial tension in bakelite or similar material, cut out the model at some angle to the direction of the tension, bend, and observe. Results of various tests are given; photographs of two cases, the circular hole and the semicircular notch, are included. Stress-concentration factors are also obtained and analyzed. The problem of the thick plate as contrasted with the thin plate, assumed in the usual theory, is discussed briefly.