STRESS CONCENTRATIONS

EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT: STRESS CONCENTRATIONS numerically or experimentally. Stress concentration

factors are generally found in graphical form.
Several stress concentration factor diagrams can be
OBJECTIVES: found in the EM324 textbook.

(1) Determine the change in stress induced by the

introduction of stress concentrations.

INTRODUCTION:

In this experiment the stress concentration due to a

center hole in a tensile specimen is investigated.
Auxiliary holes adjacent to the center hole are
considered as a means of reducing the stress
concentration factor.

BACKGROUND:

If a discontinuity exists is a structural or machine

element that interrupts the stress path, then the
stress at the discontinuity may be significantly
higher then the nominal stress on the section. A
stress concentration thus occurs at the
discontinuity. Several types of stress concentrations
are shown in Figure 1.

The ratio of the maximum stress to the nominal FIGURE 1

stress is the stress concentration factor. The stress
for a centrically loaded member can be determined
by:
σ = K(P/A)
Where: K is the stress concentration facto
P is the load
A is the cross-sectional area
It should be noted that the cross sectional area may
either be the gross area (area of cross-section if
discontinuity was not present), or the net area (area
of the reduced cross-section) depending on the
value used for K.
Stress concentration factors are determined in
several manners. For simple geometries and
loadings, they may be determined exactly using the
theory of elasticity. For more complex problems,
the stress concentration factor is determined
In this experiment a center hole in a flat plate is
investigated. For the special case where the width
of the plate may be considered very large with
respect to the hole size, the stress concentration
factor can be determined theoretically. The analysis
can be found in Introduction to Mechanics of
Materials, Riley/Zachary, pg. 124. The results
show that at the boundary of the hole :
σr = 0
σθ = σ(1 + 2cos 2θ)
τrθ = 0
Where the r-θ directions are as shown in
Figure 2.

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At θ = 0o, σθ is equal to 3σ where σ is the

uniform tensile stress in the plate in regions far
away form the hole. Therefore, the stress
concentration factor for a circular hole in an
infinite plate is 3.

There is a rapid decay of the stress concentration

away form the hole ( θ = 0o). At approximately one
hole diameter away from the hole, the stress is only
7 percent higher than the nominal value. This is
typical of the redistribution of stress in the
neighborhood of a discontinuity.
The effects of a stress concentration are less
significant for static loading of ductile materials
because yielding will occur in the region of high
stress and therefore redistribute the peak stresses.
However, repeated loading or impact loading may
result in fracture. Static loads may cause fractures
in the case where a stress concentration exists in a
FIGURE 2
brittle material.

Plate with Central Hole under Tension

Stress Concentration Factors

FIGURE 3

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EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

Single Hole in a Finite Plate a : distance between centers

For the case where the plate width become finite, d : diameter of auxiliary holes
the stresses in the vicinity of a single hole are c/w : central-hole diameter-to-plate
somewhat larger than the stresses predicted by the width ratio
infinite plate theory. Figure 3 indicates empirical a/w : hole spacing-to-plate width ratio
results for these types of stress concentrations.
Note that the scales for this plot have been d/w : auxiliary-hole diameter-to-plate
normalized. width ratio
d/a : auxiliary-hole diameter-to-hole
The subscript `g' indicates that the empirical work spacing ratio
is based on the gross cross-section. The
gross cross-section refers to the total cross-section
without the hole removed. Figures 5, 6, and 7 represent the three
experimentally determined curves for the design of
auxiliary holes to reduce the stress concentration of
Auxiliary Holes in a Finite Plate
a central hole. Figure 5 shows the optimum hole
One way to reduce the stress concentration around spacing-to-plate width ratio as a function of
a central circular hole in a uniaxially loaded plate is central-hole diameter-to-plate width. This curve
to introduce smaller auxiliary holes above and
can be used to locate the auxiliary holes after the
below the original hole to help smooth the stress
c/w ratio for the plate has been determined.
path past the original hole.

Figure 6 shows the optimum auxiliary-hole

diameter-to-plate width ratio as a function of
central-hole diameter-to-plate width ratio. The
w diameter of the auxiliary holes needed to produce
the maximum reduction in stress level can be
d determined.

a Figure 7 shows the stress-concentration factor, K,

c
plotted as a function of central-hole diameter-to-
plate width ratio.
a
d
The empirical work was done based on the net
cross-section. The net cross-section is the cross-
section of the plate with the central hole removed.

EQUIPMENT TO BE USED:
Tabletop tester
FIGURE 4 Vishay strain indicator
Vishay switch and balance unit
Figure 4 shows the geometry of the specimen and
parameters required to determine optimum sizes
and locations for the auxiliary holes. These
parameters are defined as follows: SPECIMENS TO BE TESTED:
w : width of plate Two aluminum specimens are to be tested. Both
c : diameter of central hole have a 1 inch diameter center hole. One specimen

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has smaller auxiliary holes above and below. For

each specimen, two strain gages are mounted on
the boundary of the hole and two are placed on the
outside edge of the plate at the minimum plate
cross-section location.

PROCEDURE:

PRELIMINARY CALCULATIONS:
Preliminary calculations are not required.

DATA REQUIREMENTS:
The cross-sectional dimensions of the specimens
must be measured. Care must be taken to avoid
damage to strain gages.

TESTING PROCEDURE:
Note that the valve to the 200-psi pressure gage
must be shut. As the load is applied to the specimen
make sure no reading occurs on this gage. The gage
will be damaged if the valve is open when
pressures above 200-psi are being used.

1.) Install specimen between grips

2.) Zero strain indicator at the no load
condition
3.) Load the plate in tension to a pressure of
500 psi
4.) Record data

REPORT:

Use the worksheet provided with the manual.

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FIGURE 5

FIGURE 6

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FIGURE 7

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