Hole-shape optimization in a finite plate in the presence of auxiliary holes

Minimizing the stress concentration around holes in uniaxially loaded finite plates is an important consideration in engineering design. One method for reducing the stress concentration around a central circular hole in a uniaxially loaded plate is to introduce smaller auxiliary holes on either side of the original hole to help smooth the flow of the tensile principal-stress trajectories past the original hole. This method has been demonstrated by Heywood and systematically studied by Erickson and Riley. Erickson and Riley show that for a central-hole diameter-to-plate width ratio of 0.222, the maximum stress reduction is up to 16 percent. In recent work, Durelliet al. show that the stress concentrations around holes in uniaxially loaded plates can be minimized by changing the hole shape itself till an optimum hole profile with constant stress values respectively on the tensile and compressive segments of the hole boundary is reached. By this technique the maximum stress reduction obtained for the above case is up to 20 percent.