Contact stress of O-ring under uniform squeeze rate by photoelastic experimental hybrid method

In this paper, photoelastic experimental hybrid methods using the external traction free boundary condition and that using the relative equation of two stress functions in contact problems are developed. The validities of these two methods are confirmed through experiments and discussions. Hertz’s contact theory and the two photoelastic experimental hybrid methods explained are applied to the analysis of the contact stress of an O-ring under 10% or 20% squeeze rate. The photoelastic experimental hybrid method using the relative equation of two stress functions in contact problems was found to be more effective. When the squeeze rates of an O-ring were 10% or 20%, the maximum of absolute σ _x was greater than the maximum of absolute σ _y , but was almost equal. Maximums of absolute τ _xy were 1/8 of absolute σ _x and 1/5 of absolute σ _x when the squeeze rates of the O-ring were 10% and 20%, respectively. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Jai-Sug Hawong received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yeungnam Uni-versity in 1974. Then he received his M.S. degree and Ph.D. degree from Yeungnam University in Korea in 1976 and from Kanto Gakuin University in Japan in 1990, respectively. Prof. Hawong is currently a professor at the school of Mechanical Engineering at Yeungnam University, in Gyeongsan city, Korea. He is currently serving as an vise-president of Korea Society Mechanical Engineering. Prof. Hawong’s research interests are the areas of static and dynamic fracture mechanics, stress analysis, experimental mechanics for stress analysis and composite material etc.