Application of Caustic Method to Stress Analysis in Cutting Operation. In Case of Plates with Un-uniformly Continuously Distributing Load.

In this paper the properties of caustic were made clear to apply this experimental method to stress analysis in cutting operations. Under simplified two dimensional conditions, the objects of study are a wedge shaped plane and a half plane with un-uniformly continuously distributing load over loading region. Specimens are made of acrylate resin plate of 3 mm thickness. The caustic patterns formed by reflected lights from the both surfaces of plate are observed and their characteristics with loading conditions are investigated in detail. On the other hand the computational patterns based on optical theory and mapping method are plotted. These two patterns are coincided accurately enough. With obtained results the convenient simple formula to evaluate end values of external load is proposed.