Two-dimensional Photoelasticity
Photoelasticity can be applied both to three dimensional and two dimensional state of stress. But the application of photoelasticty to the three dimensional state of stress is more involved as compared to the state of two dimensional / plane stress system. So the present section deals with application of photoelasticity in investigation of a plane stress system. This condition is achieved when the thickness of the prototype is much smaller as compared to dimensions in the plane. Thus one is only concerned with stresses acting parallel to the plane of the model, as other stress components are zero.
The experimental setup varies from experiment to experiment. The two basic kinds of setup used are plane polariscope and circular polariscope.
Read more about this topic: Photoelasticity