PLOTTING OF FRINGE CONTOURS FROM FINITE-ELEMENT RESULTS

A novel and simple approach to plot fringe contours from finite element results that simulates the fringe thickness variation as observed in experiments is presented. The procedure does not require solution of any non-linear equation. Shape functions are used as interpolation functions to plot fringe contours from the nodal values of fringe orders. The various fringe contours one usually comes across in stress analysis are also reviewed. The program code in Turbo-Pascal employing the new algorithm is given. Stress and displacement contours at the tip of a crack in an SEN (single-edge-notched) specimen are plotted using the code developed. The fringe contours plotted correspond to those observed in experiments such as photoelasticity, holography and Moire.