Experiment No.

3
Object:
To analyze the stress pattern in tension or compression of different models of transparent
plastics made of acrylic or epoxy resin or even glass by using the apparatus Transmitted light
Polaris cope (FL-200).

Theory:
The photo elastic method has been used since 1930 and remains one of the most interesting
methods in optical tension analysis, not least because of its great clarity and the relatively
simple experimental layout. The photo elastic principle is particularly suited for the analysis of
the distribution of stresses in flat models. However, three-dimensional models can also be
analyzed with some additional adjustments.

Procedure:
The Photo elastic principle is particularly suited for the analysis of the distribution of stresses in
Flat Model.
Set up the unit on a level and stable surface.
Placed the light source unit on the surface and connect to the main electricity.
The Filters are mounted in a rotating filter holder.
The Filter frame should fit into all three rollers evenly with no clearance.
The heights of the two side rollers may be adjusted by loosen the side screw and can
adjust the height.
The Filter holder has a pointer on the side, which can be used to read the relative angle.
The height of the pointer for the angle setting can also be adjusted and pointer should be
level with the center of the filter plate.
The Polarization filter and quarter wave filter are placed b/w the light source and model
and they are arranged with a particular offset angle b/w their filter axes 0 o and 45o
respectively.
The Analyzer (polarization and quarter filter) is b/w the model and the viewer and they
are arranged with a particular offset angle b/w their filter axes 315o and 270o
respectively.
The load mechanism (model) can be properly fitted at any point on the load frame.
The light source is Turn ON using two switches (one for monochromatic and other for
the white light) on the side of the housing. Both light sources can also be used
simultaneously.
In monochromatic light, the individual lines have better resolution than white light.
The distribution of the stresses in flat model (under tension/compression/pressure mode
etc.) can be seen from the viewer end, and analysis of model can be done.
When the experiment is done, change the model for another analysis if desired, or Turn
OFF the light source unit.
When a ray of plane polarized light is passed through a photo elastic material, it gets resolved
along the two principal stress directions and each of these components experiences different
refractive indices. The difference in the refractive indices leads to a relative phase retardation
between the two component waves.
The setup used to photograph this photo was probably composed of:

 A regular light source, with a quarter-wave plate installed to polarize the emerging light.
A regular photo camera, with a quarter-wave plate installed in front of the lens Light and
camera being installed and oriented in the same direction, the two quarter-wave plates
were turned with the polarizing axis in the same direction.

Results:
Comparing the stresses of the sample under tension and Compression different colors at the
edges of stress concentration, and changing of colors with stress values.