Stress patterns on plastic disc under pressure

Credit: PETER APRAHAMIAN/SHARPLES STRESS ENGINEERS LTD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY.

Caption: Coloured interference patterns in a plastic disc under pressure are visible when photographed through polarised light. Photoelastic studies on models are used in the stress analysis of real components and structures. When viewed through polarised light certain plastics display interference fringe patterns from which the direction and magnitude of stresses may be calculated. These calculations may then be related to stresses in real components, whether they be manufactured in steel, aluminium, cast iron or many other materials.

Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.

Keywords: engineering, interference pattern, non-destructive testing, photoelastic, photoelasticity, polarised light, stress analysis, technology, test

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