Résumé Il est nécessaire de considérer les avantages et les limitations des nombreuses méthodes dont on dispose aujourd'hui pour l'analyse des contraintes. Des études systématiques manquent sur cette question. L'auteur s'occupe qualitativement de l'efficacité relative des méthodes dites des éléments-finis par rapport aux méthodes expérimentales d'analyse des contraintes. Il fait quelques considérations aussi sur la valeur relative de: 1o la photoplasticité et le moiré pour résoudre des problèmes de plasticité; 2o la photo-ortho-élasticité, la couche photoélastique et le moiré pour résoudre des problèmes d'anisotropie; 3o plusieurs des méthodes employées maintenant pour résoudre des problèmes de photoélasticité dynamique; 4o les méthodes employées en photoélasticité tridimensionnelle, et en général sur les méthodes photoélastiques, du moiré, de l'holographie, des pellicules fragiles et des méthodes ponctuelles.

Summary It is necessary to consider the advantages and limitations of each of the numerous methods available today for the analysis of stress. Systematic studies are lacking on this subject. The author deals in a qualitative manner with the relative efficiency of the so-called finite element methods in respect with the experimental stress analysis methods. He also makes considerations on the relative merits of: 1) photoplasticity and moiré to solve problems in plasticity; 2) photo-ortho-elasticity, photoelastic coatings, and moiré to solve anisotropic problems; 3) several of the methods used today to solve problems in dynamic photoelasticity; 4) the methods used in three-dimensional photoelasticity, and in general about the photoelasticity methods, moiré, holography, brittle coatings, and the point-by-point methods. The analysis presented in the paper can be considered only preliminary. The author, however, gives reasons for his preference for the whole-field methods and for the diffused light polariscopes, for the use of moiré to solve problems in plasticity and in anisotropy, and for the use of the methods of repeated flashes to solve reproduceable problems in dynamic photoelasticity. He also shows that in general the “freezing” method is the most pratical and the most precise to solve three-dimensional problems. He thinks that the method of finite elements has replaced, or will soon replace, two-dimensional static photoelasticity. On the other hand, photoelasticity seems to be the most efficient method to solve dynamic problems, optimization problems, and three-dimensional problems.