Internal stress analysis of a stepped rounded D-ring under a uniform squeeze rate and internal pressure using a photoelastic experimental hybrid method

Internal stresses occurring in a stepped rounded D-ring compressed to 20% squeeze and pressurized with internal pressures of 0, 0.98, 1.96, 2.94, 3.92 and 4.9 MPa are analyzed using a photoelastic experimental hybrid method. At a pressure of 0 MPa and 20% squeeze, the photoelastic isochromatic fringes of the stepped rounded D-ring were almost symmetrical. As the internal pressure increased, the isochromatics shifted and curved towards the extrusion gap. By supplying a radius of 0.33 mm at the corners of the stepped D-ring, the high stresses at the sharp corners were reduced by up to 25%. These results further indicate that extrusion of the stepped rounded D-ring occurred at an internal pressure of 4.9 MPa which was about 25% higher than the pressure at which the extrusion of the stepped unrounded D-ring occurred.