Stresses around a single circular opening.

The stresses analysis for estimating the stress concentrations around a mine opening is based
on a few assumptions. These are as follows:
1. The cross section of the opening can be represented bya simple geometrical shapes,
namely, a cricle, ellipse, ovaloid, and rectgangle with rounded corners
2. The length of the opening is horizoantall and the axes of the cross section are
horizantal and vertical
3. The vertical stgress is equal to the weight of the overlying rock and thus
=
Where is the vertical stress, is unit weight of the rock formation, and Z is the
depth of consideration and the horizontal stress is assumed to be less than the vertical
stress and it is computed as follows

=
.
1

=
1
horizontal stress.
4. The different types of insitu stress fields are assumed to be represented by the
following figure., where mis 0, 1/3, and 1 , representing shallow condition,
moderately deep and very deep ( where hydrostatic stress condition is assumed to be
present)

Fig
Circular Openings

Three assumed types of stress fields

The exact solution for the stresses around a circular hole in an infinite plate in a biaxial stress
field is:

The above equations show that the stresses around the openings are independent of the elastic
constants of the material and the radius of the hole.
The stresses near the boundary are expressed as a ratio of the stress at a point to one of the
applied stresses. This ration is referred to as the stress concentration, means the stress at a
certain point has the same sign as the applied stress. And a negative sign means the stress at
the point is opposite to the applied stress

1. The figure below shows that the tangential stress concentration ( ) is a maximum at

the boundary and decreases rapidly with the distance from the boundary.

2. The radial stress concentration ( ) at the boundary is zero and gradually increases as

the distance from the boundary.

3. For m= 0, the maximum tangential stress concentration at = 00 = 1800 3
and at = 900 = 2700 1. Thus for an applied compressive stress of Sv,
the maximum tangential compressive and tensile boundary stresses are 3Sv and Sv,
respectively.
2

4. For m= 1/3, the maximum stress concentration is 2 3 = 00 = 1800 ;

= 900 = 2700 , = 0

5. For m=1, the stress concentration is 2 at all points and on the is compressive at all
points on the boundary of the opening.

6. The maximum shear stress occurs in a direction at 450 to the tangent at any point on
the boundary of circular opening.

Fig

Axial stress concentrations for a circular hole

Fig

Boundary stress concentrations for a circular opening.

Elliptical Openings
The elliptical opening is defined by the width Wo and height Ho of the opening. The stress
concentrations, therefore, are with respect to the

1. For m=0 condition the maximum stress concentration at the ends of the horizontal
axis increases as the

.ratio increases, whereas the stress concentation at the top and

bottom of the opening remain constant at a value of -1, signifying tension whne the
applied stress is compression.

2. For m=1/3 the boundary stress concentrations at the ends of the horizontal azis
increases with

. ratio and the stress concentration at the ends of the vertical axis

change from the large positive values to small negative values.

3. The hydrostatic stress field m=1 produces maximum stresses in the horizontal axis for

. Ratios greater than 1, and on the vertical axis for

. ratios less than 1

Fig

Boundary stress concentrations for elliptical openings.

Ovaloidal Openings
1. The tangential boundary stress distribution for the stress fields represented by m=0,
m=1/3, and m=1, and for

1 1

ratios of 4 , 2 , 2, 4 are given below in the figures. The

maximum stresses around ovaloidal openings do not occur on the axes of the
openings but are shifted towards the junction of the semi-circular end and the straight
side.
2. For m=0,the maximum stress concentration along the sides of the opening increases

with the ratio. For all

ratios , the stress concentration at the top and bottom of the

opening remains approximately constant at a value of -1.

3. For m=1/3 the boundary stress concentration on the sides of the opening increases

with the ratio, and the stress concentration at the top and bottom of the opening

changes from small positive values to small negative values.

4. For m=1, maximum stress concentrations on the sides of the opening for

than 1 and on the top and bottom for ratios less than 1.

greater

Fig

Boundary stress concentrations for ovaloidal openings.

Rectangular Openings

Fig

Boundary stress concentrations for rectangular and square openings

1. The tangential, boundary stress distribution around a square opening with rounded
corner is shown in the above figures, with stress fields represented by m=0, m=1/3,
and m=1.
2. The tangential stress concentrations on the boundary of rectangular openings with
rounded corners with

1 1

ratios of 4 , 2 , 2, 4 and for stress fields m=0, m=1/3, and

m=1 are shown in the above figures.

Fig.

Critical comparative stress concentrations for openings of various cross sections