Photoelastic Analysis of Bending Strength of Helical Gear

Abstract

Photoelastic stress analysis is a technique that provides us with a complete (full-field analysis) stress distribution over an entire object/structural member of interest. It is based on the property of some transparent materials to exhibit colorful patterns when viewed with polarized light. These patterns occur as the result of alteration of the polarized light by the internal stresses into two waves that travel at different velocities. This phenomenon of double refraction is known also as birefringence. The patterns that develop are related to the distribution of the internal stresses and are called the photoelastic effect.