Analysis of SCF for Different Shaped Cutouts and Orientation on Plates

Stress concentration factor (SCF) is the significant parameter in the design of the any structural component. The structural elements, panels and pressure vessel shells contain different types of cut-outs or openings for its functional requirements. Generally failure of mechanical component occurs due to high stress concentration. Stress concentration is high near to the discontinuities in continuum, abrupt changes in cross section and due to contact stresses. In this study a rectangular plate is taken with square, triangular and elliptical cutouts for experimentation. Generally the stress concentration is extreme near the cutouts. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate the accuracy and simplicity of presented analytical solution for stress analysis of plates with central cutout and validating the results by electrical strain gauge method. The varying parameters such as cutout shape, bluntness and cutout orientations which affect the stress distributions and SCF in the plates are considered.The results presented herein indicated that the stress concentration factor of perforated plates can be significantly changed by using proper cutout shape, bluntness and orientation.