FIXATION OF 3-DIMENSIONAL STATES OF DEFORMATION IN POLYMERS BY IONIZING-RADIATION - III - EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND IMPLEMENTATION

Photoelastic investigations using transparent polymeric materials are still a potential tool in mechanical engineering, in civil engineering and more recently in biomechanics. They allow the analysis of deforma tions or stresses even in complex three-dimensional bodies. In order t o extend the application of such plastic models at ambient temperature it was necessary to improve the fixation of deformations in the loade d state. This could be realized by the study and proper modification o f some radiation-curable polymer systems (Schaudy et al., 1995, 1996). The experimental results reveal a broad variety of properties due to the type of the polymer system and to the degree of crosslinking cause d by the radiation dose applied. Simple spatial models are as well dis cussed as the industrial and scientific implementation of the new mate rials.