Studies on Stress Distribution under Simulated Muscles on Dry Skull Utilizing Thermoelastic Stress Imaging Method

Part I. Comparison of Thermoelastic Stress Imaging Method and Strain Gage Method

Abstract

In this paper in order to analyze the stress distribution on human dry skull through a thermoelastic stress imaging method the observation patterns was compared with those of strain gage method and discussed. As a result, the following conclusions have been reached:
1. The thermoelastic stress imaging method allowed the measurement of the mandibular stress distribution upon positioning the bone similar to the in vivo mechanism.
2. It was found that stess distribution pattern through the thermoelastic stress imaging method was similar to those through the strain gage method.
3. It was considered that the thermoelastic stress imaging method was useless for measuring transverse stress or shearing stress.
4. It was possible to make up for defects of each of these by using both the thermoelastic stress imaging method and the strain gage method in combination.
These results showed that the thermoelastic stress imaging method may have an analyzing ability under the condition that is closer to the actual natural state than conventional methods.