Stress Concentration and its Mitigation Techniques

in Flat Plate with SingularitiesA Critical Review

Shubhrata Nagpal1,*, Nitin Jain2, and Shubhashish Sanyal1
1 Mechanical

Engineering Department, NIT Raipur

Mechanics Department, NIT Raipur
*
E-mail: shubh_luck7@rediffmail.com
2 Applied

Abstract. A number of analytical, numerical and experimental techniques are

available for reduction of stress concentration factor around discontinuities.
Determination of stress concentration factor around different discontinuities in a
rectangular plate made up of different materials under different loading conditions has
been reported in literature. Mitigation of stress concentration factor although, an area
with very earlier findings however, is lesser reported in the literature. An attempt has
been made in the present work to present an overview of various techniques developed
for analysis and mitigation of stress concentration factor. The methods compared are
tabulated with their findings. No single method can be suggested for each and every
condition to the reduction of stress concentration; still the present comparative study
will help in deciding the stress mitigation method for a particular case. Singularities of
circular hole in rectangular plate and elliptical hole in rectangular plate are considered
in present study. Separate nomenclature has not been given and the terms are defined as
and where used. References are used as per their occurrence and not in a particular
order.

Keywords: Stress concentration factor, discontinuity, mitigation.

ENGINEERING JOURNAL Volume 16 Issue 1

Received 11 April 2011
Accepted 9 September 2011
Published 1 January 2012
Online at http://www.engj.org
DOI:10.4186/ej.2012.16.1.1

DOI:10.4186/ej.2012.16.1.1

1. Introduction
In recent years, researchers have put enormous amount of effort in investigating techniques for analysis
and mitigation of stress concentration. The failure of structures due to stress concentration at any
discontinuity has been baffling engineers for long. It has been found that structure failures in ships,
offshore structures, boilers or high rise buildings subjected to natural calamities is due to stress
concentration. Stress concentration mainly occurs due to discontinuities in continuum. Due to stress
concentration the magnitude of the maximum stress occurring in any discontinuity is comparatively
higher than the nominal stress. Stress concentration cause strength degradation and premature failure of
structures because of fatigue cracking and plastic deformation frequently occurring at these points.
1.1.

Stress Concentration

Stress concentration is localization of high stresses mainly due to discontinuities in continuum, abrupt
changes in cross section and due to contact stresses. To study the effect of stress concentration and
magnitude of localized stresses, a dimensionless factor called Stress Concentration Factor (SCF), Kt as
defined by Eq. (1) is used.

Kt = max / nom

(1)

where max is maximum stress at the discontinuity and nom is nominal or background stress.
A rectangular isotropic or orthotropic plate with circular hole under different types of loading have
found wide application in various fields of engineering like in automobiles, marine, aerospace and in
other engineering structures. In these plates SCF is affected by many parameters viz. plate length,
diameter of holes, dimensions of discontinuity, thickness of plate, elastic constants and many more. For
design of such plates with holes/singularities, knowledge of deflection, stresses and stress concentration
are required.
The stress concentration factor can be determined analytically by applying elasticity theory. For a
large thin plate with a small circular hole at the center, that is subjected to uni-axial far-field tension, ,
acting along the x-axis, the stresses (radial, circumferential and tangential ) around the vicinity of the
hole are given in polar coordinates r , by following equations [1], Fig. 1. :

a 2 a 2 3a 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 cos 2
2 r 2 r
r
a 2 3a 4
1 2 1 4 cos 2
2 r 2
r

rr

a 2 3a 2
r 1 2 1 2 sin 2
2

(2)

(3)

(4)

where = Angle measured counter clockwise from x-axis and a = Radius of the circular hole.

Fig. 1.

Plate with single circular hole subjected to uni-axial stress.

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1.2.

Measurement of Stress

Stress analysis of the critical elements under various loading conditions is carried out by the researchers
for safe design of the element. Stress is measured by experimental methods or analytical/numerical
method.
1.2.1.

Experimental Methods

From the various experimental methods available for stress analysis, the following methods are long
established.
1.2.1.1.

Photo Elasticity

Photo elastic stress analysis is a full field technique for measuring the magnitude and direction of
principal stresses. When polarised light is passed through a stressed transparent model, interference
patterns or fringes are formed. These patterns provide immediate qualitative information about the
general distribution of stress, positions of stress concentrations and of areas of low stress using the
principals of stress optic law, Eq. (5) [2].
(5)
1 2 = N f /t
where 1 and 2 are the values of the maximum and minimum principal stresses at the point under
consideration, N is the fringe number or fringe order at the point, f is the material fringe value and t is
the model thickness.
1.2.1.2.

Brittle Coating

The brittle-lacquer technique of experimental stress analysis relies on the failure by cracking of a layer
of a brittle coating which has been applied to the surface under investigation. Specially prepared
lacquers are usually applied by spraying on the actual part. Pattern of small cracks appear on the surface
of this coating where the strain is high indicating the presence of stress concentration. The cracks also
indicate the directions of maximum strain at these points since they are always aligned at right angles to
the direction of the maximum principal tensile strain. These crack data could be used to locate strain
gauges for precise measurement of the stress. The method is however, sensitive to temperature and
humidity [2].
1.2.1.3.

Electrical Strain Gauges

The method is one of the most popular and widely accepted for strain measurements and stress analysis.
The strain gauge consists of a grid of strain-sensitive metal foil bonded to a plastic backing material.
Any change in length will result in a change of resistance. Thus measurement of this resistance change
with suitably calibrated equipment enables a direct reading of linear strain to be obtained.
Change of resistance and strain may be expressed as follows:

R / R K L / L

K R / R / L / L

R / R / K

(6)
where R and L are the changes in resistance and length respectively, K is termed as the gauge factor
and is the strain. Thus measurement of this resistance change with suitably calibrated equipment
enables a direct reading of linear strain to be obtained.
1.2.2.

Analytical/Numerical Methods

Distribution of stresses in a structure with boundary conditions, i.e. displacements and/or forces on the
boundary can be determined by using either the closed form analytical methods or by approximate
numerical methods.
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Boundary value problems can be solved analytically by using constitutive equations based on the
elastic or plastic behavior of the material under load. Analytical or close-form solutions can be obtained
for simple geometries, constitutive relations and boundary conditions.
Approximate solutions for boundary-value problems can be obtained through the use of numerical
methods such as finite element method, finite difference method, boundary element method, finite
volume method and mesh less method.
1.2.2.1.

Finite Element Method

The structural model to be analysed is divided into many small pieces of simple shapes called elements.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program writes the equations governing the behaviour of each element
taking into consideration its connectivity to other elements through nodes. These equations relate the
unknowns, for example displacements in stress analysis, to known material properties, restraints and
loads. The program assembles the equations into a large set of simultaneous algebraic equations thousands or even millions. These equations are then solved by the program to obtain the stress
distribution for the entire model.
In recent years, with the advent of advanced softwares, the FEA based software ANSYS,
COSMOL, DIANA, ABACUS and NASTRAN have been very useful for stress analysis. These
softwares are preferred by users according to the type of stress analysis, the type of elements to be
analysed and the depth of accuracy required.
1.2.2.2.

Boundary Element Method

In this method the governing differential equation is converted into an integral form, often involving
only integrals over the boundary of the domain. Consequently, only the boundary has to be discretized
in order to carry out the integrations. The dimensionality of the problem is thereby effectively reduced
by one. A three dimensional volume problem becomes a two dimensional surface one, while a twodimensional plane problem involves only one-dimensional line integrations. Also, because the interior
of a solution domain is not discretized, there is much less approximation involved in representing the
solution variables and rapid variations of, for example, stresses and displacements can be resolved very
accurately. Stresses are accurate as there are no approximations imposed on the solution in interior
domain points. The method is suitable for modelling problems of rapidly changing stresses. Boundary
Element Method (BEM) uses less number of nodes and elements for the same level of accuracy as other
methods. The Boundary Element Method is unsuitable if information is required at a large number of
internal points [3].
1.2.2.3.

Mesh Free Method

It is an alternative numerical approach to eliminate the well-known draw backs in the finite element and
boundary element methods. Mesh free method is especially useful in the problems with discontinuous
or moving boundaries. The main objective of the Mesh Free methods is to get rid of the difficulty of
meshing and re-meshing the entire structure, by only adding or deleting nodes in the entire structure,
instead. Mesh Free methods use a set of nodes scattered within the problem domain as well as sets of
nodes scattered on the boundaries of the domain to represent the problem domain and its boundaries.
These sets of scattered nodes are called field nodes.

2. Literature Review
Analysis of stress concentration around discontinuities in plates under various loading conditions is
worked out by various researchers from as early as in 1960. Researchers have worked with different
types of discontinuities like circular hole or elliptical hole in a rectangular plate, different types of
notches like semi circular notch, V notch, U notch in a plate with different loading and material. Lately
people have also contributed significantly in the area of stress mitigation techniques. The analysis is
carried out by one of the method discussed earlier experimental or analytical. An attempt is made to
4

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review few of the important contribution for analysis of stress concentration and its mitigation in the
present work.
2.1.

Analysis of Stress Concentration

The work carried out by various researchers for analysis of SCF is compiled and presented by Peterson
[4].Circular hole in an infinite plate was analyzed by Kirsch [5] and SCF value under tensile loading is
reported as 3. SCF values for finite width plate with a circular hole are determined by Howland [6] and
are presented for various a/w ratios in the form of curves. The above has been formulated by Heywood
[7] and the relation is as follows:

Ktn = 2+ (1-a/w)3

(7)

where, K tn is defined as ratio of maximum stress to nominal stress. As reported by Peterson, the above
formula is satisfactory for a/w <0.3.
Fedorov [8] studied the effect of D/A ratio and different loading on stress concentration in a glass
reinforcement plastic specimen and extended the work on anisotropy of material. He has presented
studies of 12 different models for different loads and sizes.
Stress concentration around irregular holes using complex variable methods are reported by K. R.
Y. Simha [9].Conformal mapping method has been used for evaluation of stresses. The method is an
operation in complex mathematics which maps a set of points in one coordinate system to a
corresponding set in another, keeping the angle of intersection between two curves constant, and is
widely used in solving elasticity problem. Nine hole shapes with same area and different perimeter are
studied. Irregular holes may change their shape if not their size by exchanging surface energy with
strain energy. A linear elastic analysis followed in this paper may not support the physics of change in
shapes but can be extended to a linear visco-elastic material.
Solution of plate with an elliptical hole was first given by Kolosoff [10]. Ukadgaonkar [11] has
analyzed the stresses in an infinite plate with elliptical hole or crack with tensile stresses. The closed
form solutions are given for SCF and SIF (Stress Intensity Factor). It is observed that SCF and SIF
depend on the material parameters for anisotropic material, while it is independent of material
properties in case of isotropic materials.
N. Troyani [12], showed that theoretical SCF also depends on the length of the member in addition
to the established other geometric parameters. He compared the value of SCF for short plate and long
plate for same loading and boundary conditions and introduced transition length for short members.
Transition length is defined as the length of the bar for which the calculated theoretical SCF varies 1%
0.05 % with respect to corresponding established values for long bars.
Engels [13] proposed optimal design of hole reinforcement for composite structures. Reinforcement
by elliptical doublers as well as doublers is adopted. An appropriate optimization structural model is
developed to describe the mechanical behaviour like displacement and stresses of such structures and an
appropriate mathematical optimization algorithm is used to approach the desired optimum design. The
infinite composite plate can be analyzed by the complex potential method as well as the Finite Element
Method. The implemented procedure works with good reliability, efficiency and yields optimal
reinforced designs which are useful for direct engineering applications.
Zirka et al. [14] have analyzed stress concentration around circular hole in a rectangular plate for
orthotropic and isotropic plates under dynamic and static loading. They have used photo elastic method
for analysis. The plate model is made of an anisotropic optically sensitive material with the following
properties, Elastic modulus: E1 = 4.30*103 MPa, E2 = 6.08*103 MPa; Shear modulus: G= 1.79*103 MPa;
Poissons ratios: 12 = 0.33 and 21 = 0.471 and optical constants: d1=2.5Mpa.cm / fringe,
d2=4.1Mpa .cm / fringe, and d = 4.95*10-4 cm/fringe. The dynamic photo-elastic method was used for
dynamic loading, P(t). The stress fringe patterns of the hole were recorded at a frame rate of f = 2MHz.
The curves plotted for Dynamic SCF, K - Dynamic SCF is the SCF under the dynamic loading, is
shown in Fig. 2. Dynamic SCF values are compared with the theoretical values.
The experimental values of K at some peripheral points of a hole (0 ) in orthotropic and
isotropic plates under dynamic and static loading is presented in Fig. 2. and are tabulated in Table 1.
(K)d.o., (K)d.i., (K)s.o and (K)s.i. are SCF for dynamic loading and static loading for orthotropic and
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isotropic materials respectively. (K)t.o. and ( K)t.i. presents theoretical values for an orthotropic plate
(t,o) and for an isotropic plate (t,i) respectively.

Fig. 2.

Distribution of fringe order m; (a) and dynamic stress concentration factor K; (b) along
the periphery of a circular hole in an orthotropic plate [14].

Table 1. Experimental values of K at peripheral points of a hole in an orthotropic and isotropic plate
[14].
0
( K )d.o.
( K )d.i.
( K )s.o.
( K )s.i.
( K )t.o.
( K )t.i.

0
/12 /6 /4 /3 5/6
/2
3.75 3.05 1.61 0.57 0.05 -0.65 -0.92
2.72 2.12 1.16 0.32 0.04 -0.47 -0.66
3.59
1.66
0.04
-0.89
2.67 2.08 1.23 0.34 0.03 -0.46 -0.65
3.62 2.85 1.64 0.56 0.04 -0.62 -0.89
2.70 2.10 1.24 0.34 0.03 -0.45 -0.65

Zheng Yang et al. [15] Investigated the elastic stress and strain fields of finite thickness large plate
containing a hole using 3D finite element method for analysis. The maximum stress and strain are taken
as function of thickness of plate and Poissons ratio of the plate. The results are given in different curve
forms, for different geometrical element and Poissons ratio. Relation between stress concentration
factor and strain concentration factor - strain concentration factor is the ratio of strains in direction of
loading to net strain in the element at discontinuity, has also been studied.
Mittal and Jain [16] proposed finite element analysis for determination of Stress Concentration and
deflection in isotropic, orthotropic and laminated composite plates with central circular hole under
transverse static loading. Plate with uniformly distributed loading and with loading at boundary of hole
was considered for analysis, as shown in Fig. 3. The effect of D/A ratio upon SCF for normal stress in
X and Y directions is reported. Variation in SCF for different boundary conditions at the edges of plate
has been analyzed.

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Fig. 3.

Plate with circular hole under different loading conditions: (a) A laminated plate with central
hole; (b) Uniformly distributed loading of P Newton; (c) Loading at boundary of hole. [16]

The equations have been developed by Roark to fit as closely as possible the many data points
given in the literature by many researchers through experiments and analytical methods. Roark
developed the following equation for SCF based on the work of Flynn and Heywood [7]:
Kt=3.0 - 3.13(2r/D) + 3.66(2r/D)2 -1.53(2r/D)3

(8)

where 2r = Diameter of hole and D = Width of plate .

T. Hasan [17] has reported stress analysis of steel plate having holes of various shapes, sizes and
orientations using finite element method. Finite element analysis is carried out by using the commercial
software COMSOL 3.3. The rectangular plate with elliptical hole subjected to uni-axial load used for
analysis is shown in Fig.4.

Fig. 4.

Rectangular plate with elliptical hole subjected to uni-axial load [17].

Results are presented in the form of graphs as shown in Fig. 5(a). Effects of hole shape are critically
analyzed from the results of the finite element method and analytical methods. Comparisons between
the results by the present finite element method and the analytical solution technique yields good
agreement.
For elliptical hole, with the increase of plate length to width ratio the maximum stress at all angular
position increases as shown in Fig. 5(a). At 0 angular position of elliptical hole, maximum stress
occurs at the two ends of hole on its minor axis. At 90 angular position of elliptical hole, maximum
stress occurs at the two ends of hole on its major axis Fig. 5(b).

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Fig. 5(a). Distribution of normalized axial stress component at different sections of the plate [17].

Fig. 5(b). Variation of maximum stress due to the orientation of elliptical hole [17].
Several persons have compiled the work on analysis of SCF of various researchers. The work of
Peterson and Roark is commendable in this direction. However with the advent of new technology and
new materials the latest work in this area need to be compiled. The review presented above is a small
effort in this direction and is further tabulated below.
Mohsen [18] first discussed the effect of non-homogeneous stiffness on SCF by keeping Poissons
ratio constant. Secondly, Youngs modulus is held constant and influence of varying Poissons ratio is
analyzed. SCF is analyzed for biaxial loading as well as for pure shear.
Kubair [19] numerically investigated the effect of the material property in-homogeneity on the SCF
due to a circular hole in functionally graded panels. Functionally graded materials are composites in
which the material properties vary continuously as a known function of the spatial position. A
parametric study was performed by varying the functional form and the direction of the material
property gradation. The results from parametric study showed that the SCF is reduced when the
material property (Youngs modules) progressively increased away from the centre of the hole. In
exponential functionally graded materials, the angular variation and the magnitude of the stresses are
affected by the material property inhomogeneity.
In Table 2, contributions of work from many researchers have been summarized. Different
techniques over the years have been used for analysis of SCF by the researchers. These have been
compared on the basis of type of discontinuity in the element like notches or holes, circular/elliptical
hole etc., the types of material used for the element, different types of loading applied to the element
like axial transverse, biaxial loading etc. Further, the method used for analysis of SCF is also varies
from different researchers.

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Table 2. Review of stress concentration analysis in plate with singularities.

S. No.

Author

Year

Discontinuity

Material

Loading

R. E. Peterson
[4]

1966

Holes, notches

Isotropic

Axial , bending Compiled work of

moment,
many researchers
twisting
moment

A. P. Fedrov
and D. Popov
[8]

1972

Circular hole in plate Glass reinforced Uni-axial, Biplastic

axial

Experimental,12
models were
analyzed

J. B. Hanus
and C. P. Burger
[20]

1981

Elliptical hole near

an edge

Orthotropic

Uni-axial
Tensile

Photo elasticity

N. Troyani,
C. Gomes,
and G. Sterlacci
[12]

2002

Short rectangular
plate with central
Circular hole

Orthotropic

Uniform
Tension

Finite Element
Method

A. I. Zirka
[14]

2004

Circular Hole in a
plate

Orthotropic

Static
& Dynamic

L. Toubal,
M. Karama,
and B. Lorrain
[21]

2004

Circular hole

Composite

Longitudinal
tensile load

Photo elastic method Experimental &

theoretical values, of
dynamic SCF & static
SCF are similar.
Dynamic SCF can be
approx. found by using
static SCF & dynamic
elastic characteristic of
the material.
A non-contact
Stress concentration
measurement
characterization study
method, electronic of a
speckle pattern
Laminate has been
interferometer
carried out. The strain
(ESPI)
concentration is
influenced by the
loading direction.

F. Li,
Y. He,
C. Fan,
H. Li,
and H. Zhang
[22]

2007

Two equal circular

hole

Aluminium
Axial and
alloy LY12-CZ transverse
plate
tension

3D Finite element
method

The effect of plate

thickness on the SCF is
studied. The
relationship
between SCF & the
distance between holes
is also analyzed.

N. D. Mittal
and N .K. Jain
[23]

2007

Circular hole in
rectangular plate

Isotropic,
Transverse
Orthotropic and Static
Composite
Load ,UDL

Finite element
method

Analyzed stress
concentration and
deflection, effect of
diameter of hole to
width of plate has also
been reported

T. Hasan
[17]

2009

Finite Element
Method

10

M. Mohammadi,
J. R. Dryden,
and L. Jiang
[18]

2011

Plate having holes of Orthotropic

various shapes, sizes
and orientations
Circular hole in an Functionally
infinite plate
Graded Material
( FGM)

Effects of hole shape on

SCF are critically
analyzed
The effect of nonhomogeneous stiffness
and varying Poissons
ratio upon SCF are
analyzed.

2.2.

Mitigation of Stress Concentration

Axial loading

Analysis
Techniques

Uniform biaxial Analytical

tension and pure
shear

Review
Useful for researchers
and design engineers

Effect of D/W ratio,

loading on Stress and
strains around circular
hole are studied
Formed parameterized
geometry models &
studied interaction
between holes & free
edges
Introduced Theoretical
SCF for short plate and
effect of transition
length

Stress concentration in the vicinity of singularity can be reduced by smoothening the stress flow lines
around the singularity. Some of the approaches used for mitigation are removal of material from the
vicinity by introduction of auxiliary holes, reinforcement of the hole by adding material, hole shape
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optimization etc. Researchers attempted the means of stress mitigation using experimental or analytical
stress analysis methods.
Rajaiah et al. [24] proposed hole shape optimization for stress mitigation in a finite plate by photo
elasticity method. They introduced auxiliary holes around main hole for mitigation of SCF and also
optimized the shape of circular holes. Figure 6(a) represents the results through the graph. The effort is
made by experimental determination of reduction in SCF by a) introduction of circular holes b)
optimization of shape of main hole c) optimizing the shape of main hole as well as auxiliary holes, Fig.
6(b).
It is reported that the shape optimization of main hole and auxiliary shapes result in mitigation of
SCF, however feasibility of shape optimization in all the cases should be checked before using the
method.

Fig. 6(a). Curves showing relation for optimum auxiliary hole size and spacing [24].

Fig. 6(b). Photo-elastic results of plate with main hole and auxiliary holes [24].
Meguid [25] presented a technique for reduction of SCF in a uni-axially loaded plate with two
coaxial holes by introducing defence hole system- material removal in the form of circular holes Fig. 7.
Defence hole system is a technique of material removal for stress mitigation. Finite element method
was used for analysis. A comprehensive plane stress finite element study of the effect of material
removal upon mitigation of elastic SCF in a uni-axially loaded plate with two co axial holes was made.
Three systems for defence holes were described for FEM analysis as shown in Fig. 7. Reduction in
10

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maximum SCF ranging from 7.5% to 11 % could be achieved. They validated the results with the
existing analytical solutions.

Fig. 7.

Plate with two circular holes and proposed defence hole systems [25].

Giare et al. [26] presented a method for the reduction of stress concentration in an isotropic plate by
using composite material rings around the hole. Figure 8 shows the reinforcement in the circular hole in
plate. They have reported the reduction in stress concentration factor by reinforcement. The present
reinforcement technique may be found very useful in composite laminate plates where they could be
incorporated during manufacturing.

Fig. 8.

Reinforcement of the circular hole in plate [26].

Sanyal and Yadav [27] have extended the work of Heywood and others by proposing the optimum
distance and size of auxiliary holes for mitigation of SCF. By introducing the auxiliary holes in the line
of original hole, about 17% mitigation in SCF is achieved. They have proposed an optimum distance
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between the original hole and relief hole and also an optimum size of relief hole by assuming elliptical
stress flow lines Fig. 9.
The following expression is suggested for the optimum distance between the centres of holes in
terms of radius of main hole a1 and radius of auxiliary hole a2.
=3 a1 + a2
a2 = 0.85 a1

(9)
(10)

The work is also extended by introduction of multiple relief holes Sanyal and Yadav [28] using the
optimum distance and size of relief holes.

Fig. 9.

Main hole with proposed relief holes [27].

Mittal and Jain [23] proposed optimization of design of square simply supported isotropic plate
with central circular hole subjected to transverse static loading by Finite Element Method. They have
reported around 30% reduction in SCF. They proposed four auxiliary holes around circular hole in
square plate. A further modification of work was carried out by optimization of auxiliary hole shape by
giving elliptical shape to the auxiliary holes.
Optimal hole shape for minimum stress concentration in two dimensional finite plates is given by
Zhixue Wu [29]. They extended the optimality criteria of uniform energy density to the problem of
two dimensional shape optimization with curvature constraints. The solutions of fillets and holes in
plates show that the proposed method can be used on various fillets and notches problems with
curvature constraints.
In Table 3, the techniques used by different researchers for analysis of SCF & its Mitigation has
been compared & summarized. This comparison is based taking into consideration the different
parameters applied by the researchers like type of loading, material, discontinuity, the mitigation
technique etc.
Also, mitigation in SCF obtained by different researchers by applying different mitigation
techniques has been compared in Table 3.

3. Conclusion
It is observed that sudden change in stress flow lines causes the stress to rise abruptly. Through gradual
change in gradient of flow lines mitigation of stress is observed. The rise in the stress concentration
factor reaches to its maximum value 3 at the periphery of circular hole. The work compiled above
shows that this maximum SCF value can be reduced either by material removal at the vicinity or by
shape optimization or by strengthening the hole by inclusion of additional stronger material. Less
research work is reported in the area of mitigation of stress concentration in comparison to stress
concentration analysis as summarized in Table 2 and Table 3.

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Material removal by inclusion of relief holes will be beneficial if the distance between the holes and
its diameter is optimum as suggested by the co-author. The material removal method will be more
feasible in infinite plates due to the availability of sufficient space around the singularity.
Table 3.

Review of stress mitigation in plate with singularities.

S. No.

Author

Year

Discontinuity

Material

Loading

V. Vicentini
[30]

1967

Two superposed
semi circular
notches
symmetrically
placed at the
edges of strip

Isotropic

Pure tension

Analytical
Method

Based upon
Neubers
equation

Theoretical stress
concentration factor
are compared with
experimental results
obtained from strain
gauges and photo
elasticity in a series of
tests performed

K. Rajaiah
and N. K. Naik
[31]

1984

Plate with central Isotropic

circular hole

Tensile uniaxial

Photo elasticity

Hole shape
optimization of
original and
auxiliary hole

S. A. Meguid
[25]

1986

Plate with two

coaxial holes

Isotropic

Uni-axially
Loaded

Finite element
method

Defence Hole
System

H. Engels,
W. Hensel,
and W. Becker
[32]

2002

Circular hole

Composite
components

Uni-axial ,
Finite element
Shear , biaxial method

Optimal
reinforcement
design

Up-to 30% reduction

by original hole shape
optimization & 23 %
reduction by auxiliary
hole shape
optimization .
Feasibility should be
decided.
Three systems for
defence holes were
described. Reduction
in maximum SCF
ranging from 7.5 to
11 % has been
achieved.
The optimal designs
obtained in terms of
the possible weight
reduction and strength
improvement

S. Sanyal
and P. Yadav
[27],[28]

2005,
2006

Infinite Thin Plate Isotropic

with Single
Circular Hole

Axial Loading Finite element

method

Multiple Relief Optimum spacing for

Holes
relief holes and
optimum size of relief
holes determined.

N. D. Mittal
and N. K. Jain
[23]

2007

Circular hole in
square plate

Isotropic,
Orthotropic
and
Composite

Transverse
Static Load

Auxiliary hole
& cavities

Reduction in SCF
depends on size &
place of auxiliary
hole.

Q. Yang ,
C.-F. Gao ,
and W. Chen
[32]

2010

Plate with a
circular hole

Functionally
Graded
Material

Arbitrary
Analytical
constant loads

Proper change
ways of the
elastic
properties

The problem is
reduced approx. to the
case where the
homogeneous plate
contains N rings
which have different
material constants and
it can be solved on the
basis of
Muskhelishvilis
theory.

Analysis
Techniques

Finite element
method

Mitigation
Techniques

Review

Optimization of shape of discontinuity for mitigation of stress concentration is not always feasible.
Many a times the shape of the singularity cannot be changed because of the design constraint, for
example in case of bolt holes, rivet holes etc.
Mitigation of SCF by strengthening the hole is worked out but its feasibility further depends on the
method of reinforcement whether the material will be integral part or will be added separately. Thus,
it requires additional manufacturing effort and has to be planned during manufacturing.
Use of functionally graded material for manufacturing the element helps in mitigation of SCF up to
some extent.

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DOI:10.4186/ej.2012.16.1.1

In the current state of research, it is difficult to affirm which approach seems most suitable to ensure
maximum reduction in stress concentration and hence no universal solution or methodology can be
proposed for reduction of SCF at the edge of circular hole.
The compilation done by Peterson and Roark is commendable but the recent work also should be
compiled. The present work is an attempt towards it however the above-mentioned references are by no
means exhaustive.

Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the institute authorities for supporting the present work to be carried out in
the institute. Authors also acknowledge the various researchers whose works has been reviewed and
reported in this paper.

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