Shrinkage stresses around rigid inclusions - Investigation indicates that stress field obtained corresponds to the thermal-stress field produced by a difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the matrix and the inclusion material

The objective of this paper is the presentation of methods to study shrinkage stresses in matrices cast around rigid inclusions. The method of casting plastic specimens around glass inclusions and analyzing the resulting isochromatic fringe patterns is briefly discussed. An alternate method for the study of the relative or dimensionless stress distribution using rubber models with inserted inclusions is also, presented. A partial solution to the stress distribution between two inclusions was obtained. The generality of the method and its applicability to any matrix material are emphasized. It is pointed out that the stress field obtained corresponds to the thermal-stress field produced by a difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the matrix and the inclusion material.