An assessment of the accuracy of orthotropic photoelasticity - Abbreviated report

A brief overview is presented of a comprehensive study whose aim was to assess the accuracy of orthotropic photoelasticity. Particular attention is given to calibration of the material, forward testing for global and local behavior, and backward testing for stress determination. The experimentally determined stresses were found to agree with the elasticity solution. It is concluded that orthotropic photoelasticity does not appear to have the resolution of its isotropic counterpart, this being a consequence of the inherent inhomogeneity of the material.