Stress

concentration
factor
Amisha Chhetri (304)
Kritika Bhandari (318)

1
Stress concentration factor (kt)
➢ dimensionless factor that is used to quantify how concentrated the stress
is in a mechanical part
➢ ratio of the highest stress in the part compared to a reference stress

➢ occur as a result of irregularities in the geometry or within the material of

a component structure that causes an interruption of the stress flow [1]
Characteristics of stress concentration factor
1. Function of the geometry or shape of the part, but not its size or material
composition
2. Function of the type of loading (axial, bending, torsional) applied to the
part
3. Function of the specific geometric stress raiser (e.g. fillet radius, notch or
hole) in the part
4. Always defined with respect to particular nominal stress
5. Typically assumes a linear elastic, homogenous, isotropic material[1]
How stress concentration occurs?
❖ Due to irregular stress distribution which occurs due to the different
cross-sections, the presence of sharp corners, sharp edges, notches or
holes, keyways, scratches.[2]
Ways to reduce stress in mechanical component
1. Providing more number of holes and notches
2. Making of fillets or radius of curvature
3. Removal of undesirable material from component[3]
How Fillet and Chamfer reduces Stresses?
Fillet
➢ rounding of an inner and outer corner of a part design
➢ types of fillet:-
○ Concave fillet = concave fillets are on the interior side
○ Convex fillet = convex fillets are on the exterior side
➢ shoulder fillet is the type of stress concentration that is extra regularly encounter
in machine design practice than any other. Shafts, axles, spindles, rotors, ands
forth, typically involve a number of diameters linked by shoulders with curved
fillets replacing the pointed corners(Mr. Arjun A Abhyankar, 2017, 509, 5)
➢ distribute the stress on a larger surface, preventing the stressed part
from rapid deformation.
➢ By providing the fillet radius at sharp corners, the cross section area
decreases gradually instead of suddenly. And this distributes the stress in
the body more uniformly. This is shown in the figure given below
Fillet radius = 10mm
Fillet radius = 15 mm
chamfer
➢ sloped or angled edges or corners of a part design
➢ Is straight and has a sharp angle
➢ Focuses the stress in a specific part of the design[1]
Chamber radius = 15 mm
Chamfer radius = 20mm
Thank you
reference
[1]. What is a Stress Concentration Factor (Kt)? - Definition from Corrosionpedia

[2]. What is Stress Concentration? How to reduce it? - ExtruDesign

[3]. Machine Design : Lecture 6: How to reduce Stress Concentration । By-AM Sir - YouTube

[4]. Fillet vs Chamfers: What a Fillet is and How It Differs from Chamfers (rapiddirect.com)
 Fillet Chamfer
Machining cost More expensive than chamfer cheaper

Machining time Curved edges aren’t very easy to It is faster than fillet.
make and require more patience.
Fillet engineering takes more time
compared to chamfer.

Cutting tools We need special cutting tools to We can use one cutting
make fillet. This is because it has tool to make different
different radius chamfer sizes.

Stress concentration It shares the stress on the larger Stress is concentrated

radius, protecting the part from on a part and can cause
deforming. It is best for the exterior the material to deform
part. easily.

safety It makes material handling safer. The sharp edges can

cause injury.