Single hole in elastic medium : Greenspan Method

sy

Effect of small
hole on stresses
in a uniformly
loaded plate.

Txy
sx

sx

Txy
sy

Boundary of hole (Ellipse, Circle,

Ovaloid etc.) expressed with parametric
equation.

x p cos r cos 3
y q sin r sin 3

Solutions for tangential stress at the boundary of the excavation.

Consider 3-Simple Cases while solving the

Elasticity Equations

Case

1:

Sx 0

S y Txy 0

Case

2:

Sy 0

S x Txy 0

Case

3:

Txy 0

Sx Sy 0

From these three cases any generalised

stress field can be obtained by the
principle of superposition.

Stress Concentration

9
8
7
6
4
3
5
2
1
0
-1

H0
2

Case

1:

Sx 0

S y Txy 0

Case

2:

Sy 0

S x Txy 0

Case

3:

Txy 0

S x Sy 0

Example:
Elliptical Hole
with ratio of
major to minor
axis = 4
3

W0
i.e. H 4
0

2
1

W0
4
H0
W0
2

Sy p

p
Sy p

Stress Concentration

Corollary 1

9
8
7
6
4
3
5
2
1
0
-1

H0
2

Case 1:

Sx 0

Sy Txy 0

Case

2:

Sy 0

Sx Txy 0

Case

3:

Txy 0

Sx Sy 0

3
2
1

W0
4
H0
W0
2

For an applied normal stress parallel to one axis of the opening, the
stress concentration at the end of the axis parallel to applied stress is -1.

Corollary 2

Sy p
w
as

h
Sy p
For an applied normal stress parallel to minor axis of the opening, the
stress concentration on the boundary at the end of the major axis
increases as the ratio of major to minor axis of the opening increases.

Corollary 3

Sy p

9p

Sy p
For an applied normal stress parallel to minor axis of the opening, the
max. boundary stress concentration at the end of the major axis of the
opening increases as the radius of curvature of the boundary at the
major axis decreases.

Corollary 4

For an applied normal stress parallel to

major axis of opening, the maximum
boundary stress concentration at the end of
the minor axis, decreases for a given shape
of opening, as the major to minor axis ratio
increases.

w
as

h
Sy p

Corollary 5

Sy p

max

Sy p
For a applied normal stress parallel to one axis of the opening, the
maximum stress concentration is not necessarily at the end of the
other axis of the opening, if the smallest radius of curvature for the
boundary of the opening occurs at a location other than at the end
of the major and minor axes.