Direct view of stress distribution in solid by mechanoluminescence

Abstract

Mechanoluminescence (ML) imaging is proposed as a nondestructive technique to visualize stress distribution in various kinds of materials. Under this approach, the material to be tested is coated with a SrAl2O4:Eu surface layer or mixed with SrAl2O4:Eu to fabricate a composite structure. The light emitted by the material when subjected to stress provides a direct view of the stress distribution in the material. Computer simulation confirms the efficacy of the proposed approached. A kinetic model for ML of SrAl2O4 is presented.