DISC SUBJECTED TO LOADS UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED OVER AN ARC OF A CIRCLE AND DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED

The paper presents the solution in continuum mechanics of the problem of a disc subjected to two opposite loads uniformly distributed over an arc of a circle. One obtains in this way a solution closer to the real conditions under which the classical diametrical test is performed in the laboratory. The problem is solved in general polar coordinates (without axial symmetry). The solution of the compatibility equation is a function developed as a Fourier series, allowing one to express the discontinuous pattern of the loads. The classical solution for a disc subjected to two opposite isolated loads is obtained when approaching the limit. The general equations for the stresses and the displacements are given, from which the mechanical characteristics, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, of the tested material may be found.