Analytical solutions for determining residual stresses in two-dimensional domains using the contour method
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Updated: May 6, 2026

Investigating Stress-relaxation and Failure Responses in the Trachea
Published on: October 18, 2022
1Department of Engineering Science , Oxford University , Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK.
Abstract:
The contour method is one of the most prevalent destructive techniques for residual stress measurement. Up to now, the method has involved the use of the finite-element (FE) method to determine the residual stresses from the experimental measurements. This paper presents analytical solutions, obtained for a semi-infinite strip and a finite rectangle, which can be used to calculate the residual stresses directly from the measured data; thereby, eliminating the need for an FE approach. The technique is then used to determine the residual stresses in a variable-polarity plasma-arc welded plate and the results show good agreement with independent neutron diffraction measurements.
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