Influence of asymmetrical cuts in measuring residual stresses using contour method

• Conventional application of the contour method relies on cutting the specimen in half.
• A simple solution has been proposed when asymmetrical cuts is occurred.
• Experimental and numerical results agree well.

Experimental methods to determine residual stresses are mainly divided into destructive and non-destructive categories. Contour method is a destructive technique that offers a two dimensional map of normal component of residual stresses. The conventional contour method creates a map of residual stress component by cutting the specimen in half and measuring deformed surfaces. Having limitation in cut position does not allow determining residual stresses in various geometries due to discrepancies between the results of unequal cut pieces.In the current study, contour method was examined when asymmetrical cuts were applied. The residual stresses were measured along an asymmetric line in quenched blocks. The discrepancies in asymmetrical cuts were solved using the same principles employed in the conventional contour method. Different levels of residual stresses were used. Asymmetrical contour method employed the same principle as the conventional one. However, a different interpretation of data was proposed. Numerical findings confirmed the experimental results.