All structures suffer from stresses and strains caused by factors such as wind loading and vibrations. Stress analysis and measurement is an integral part of the design and management of structures, and is used in a wide range of engineering areas. There are two main types of stress analyses – the first is conceptual where the structure does not yet exist and the analyst has more freedom to define geometry, materials, loads etc – generally such analysis is undertaken using numerical methods such as the finite element method. The second is where the structure (or a prototype) exists, and so some parameters are known. Others though, such as wind loading or environmental conditions will not be completely known and yet may profoundly affect the structure. These problems are generally handled by an ad hoc combination of experimental and analytical methods. This book therefore tackles one of the most common challenges facing engineers – how to solve a stress analysis problem when all of the required information is not available. Its central concern is to establish formal methods for including measurements as part of the complete analysis of such problems by presenting a new approach to the processing of experimental data and thus to experimentation itself. In addition, engineers using finite element methods will be able to extend the range of problems they can solve (and thereby the range of applications they can address) using the methods developed here. Modern Experimental Stress Analysis: Presents a comprehensive and modern reformulation of the approach to processing experimental data Offers a large collection of problems ranging from static to dynamic, linear to non-linear Covers stress analysis with the finite element method Includes a wealth of documented experimental examples Provides new ideas for researchers in computational mechanics

This book is intended for undergraduate or senior graduate courses in experimental stress analysis. The text introduces the entire range of experimental mechanics, and covers all the theory required to understand experimental stress analysis. This edition has been updated to reflect changes and development in the field. There is complete coverage of the four primary methods employed in experimental stress analysis: brittle coatings, strain gages, photoelasticity, and more, with important experimental techniques associated with each covered in detail. Among the changes to this edition are an introductory chapter on Elementary Fracture Mechanics, and a new chapter describing optical methods for determining fracture parameters.

Vol. 1, no. 1 contains Proceedings of the 17th (or the last) Eastern Photoelasticity Conference.

This book summarizes the main methods of experimental stress analysis and examines their application to various states of stress of major technical interest, highlighting aspects not always covered in the classic literature. It is explained how experimental stress analysis assists in the verification and completion of analytical and numerical models, the development of phenomenological theories, the measurement and control of system parameters under operating conditions, and identification of causes of failure or malfunction. Cases addressed include measurement of the state of stress in models, measurement of actual loads on structures, verification of stress states in circumstances of complex numerical modeling, assessment of stress-related material damage, and reliability analysis of artifacts (e.g. prostheses) that interact with biological systems. The book will serve graduate students and professionals as a valuable tool for finding solutions when analytical solutions do not exist.