STRESS CONCENTRATIONS EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENT: STRESS CONCENTRATIONS OBJECTIVES: (1) Determine the change in stress induced by the introduction of stress concentrations. INTRODUCTION: In this experiment the stress concentration due to a center hole in a tensile specimen is investigated. Auxiliary holes adjacent to the center hole are considered as a means of reducing the stress concentration factor. BACKGROUND: If a discontinuity exists is a structural or machine element that interrupts the stress path, then the stress at the discontinuity may be significantly higher then the nominal stress on the section. A stress concentration thus occurs at the discontinuity. Several types of stress concentrations are shown in Figure 1. The ratio of the maximum stress to the nominal stress is the stress concentration factor. The stress for a centrically loaded member can be determined by: = K(P/A) Where: K is the stress concentration facto P is the load A is the cross-sectional area It should be noted that the cross sectional area may either be the gross area (area of cross-section if discontinuity was not present), or the net area (area of the reduced cross-section) depending on the value used for K. Stress concentration factors are determined in several manners. For simple geometries and loadings, they may be determined exactly using the theory of elasticity. For more complex problems, the stress concentration factor is determined numerically or experimentally. Stress concentration factors are generally found in graphical form. Several stress concentration factor diagrams can be found in the EM324 textbook.

FIGURE 1

In this experiment a center hole in a flat plate is investigated. For the special case where the width of the plate may be considered very large with respect to the hole size, the stress concentration factor can be determined theoretically. The analysis can be found in Introduction to Mechanics of Materials, Riley/Zachary, pg. 124. The results show that at the boundary of the hole : r = 0 = (1 + 2cos 2) r = 0

Where the r- directions are as shown in

Figure 2.

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STRESS CONCENTRATIONS EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

At = 0o, is equal to 3 where is the uniform tensile stress in the plate in regions far away form the hole. Therefore, the stress concentration factor for a circular hole in an infinite plate is 3. There is a rapid decay of the stress concentration away form the hole ( = 0o). At approximately one hole diameter away from the hole, the stress is only 7 percent higher than the nominal value. This is typical of the redistribution of stress in the neighborhood of a discontinuity. The effects of a stress concentration are less significant for static loading of ductile materials because yielding will occur in the region of high stress and therefore redistribute the peak stresses. However, repeated loading or impact loading may result in fracture. Static loads may cause fractures in the case where a stress concentration exists in a brittle material.

FIGURE 2

Plate with Central Hole under Tension Stress Concentration Factors

FIGURE 3

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STRESS CONCENTRATIONS EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

Single Hole in a Finite Plate For the case where the plate width become finite, the stresses in the vicinity of a single hole are somewhat larger than the stresses predicted by the infinite plate theory. Figure 3 indicates empirical results for these types of stress concentrations. Note that the scales for this plot have been normalized.

a : d : c/w a/w d/w d/a

distance between diameter of auxiliary holes : : : : central-hole width ratio

centers

diameter-to-plate

hole spacing-to-plate width ratio auxiliary-hole diameter-to-plate width ratio auxiliary-hole diameter-to-hole spacing ratio

The subscript `g' indicates that the empirical work is based on the gross cross-section. The gross cross-section refers to the total cross-section without the hole removed.
Auxiliary Holes in a Finite Plate One way to reduce the stress concentration around a central circular hole in a uniaxially loaded plate is to introduce smaller auxiliary holes above and below the original hole to help smooth the stress path past the original hole.

Figures 5, 6, and 7 represent the three experimentally determined curves for the design of auxiliary holes to reduce the stress concentration of a central hole. Figure 5 shows the optimum hole spacing-to-plate width ratio as a function of central-hole diameter-to-plate width. This curve can be used to locate the auxiliary holes after the c/w ratio for the plate has been determined.
Figure 6 shows the optimum auxiliary-hole diameter-to-plate width ratio as a function of central-hole diameter-to-plate width ratio. The diameter of the auxiliary holes needed to produce the maximum reduction in stress level can be determined. Figure 7 shows the stress-concentration factor, K, plotted as a function of central-hole diameter-toplate width ratio.

w d a

The empirical work was done based on the net cross-section. The net cross-section is the crosssection of the plate with the central hole removed. EQUIPMENT TO BE USED: Tabletop tester

FIGURE 4
Figure 4 shows the geometry of the specimen and parameters required to determine optimum sizes and locations for the auxiliary holes. These parameters are defined as follows:

Vishay strain indicator Vishay switch and balance unit

SPECIMENS TO BE TESTED: Two aluminum specimens are to be tested. Both have a 1 inch diameter center hole. One specimen

w : c :

width diameter

of of central

plate hole

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STRESS CONCENTRATIONS EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

has smaller auxiliary holes above and below. For each specimen, two strain gages are mounted on the boundary of the hole and two are placed on the outside edge of the plate at the minimum plate cross-section location.
PROCEDURE:

PRELIMINARY CALCULATIONS: Preliminary calculations are not required. DATA REQUIREMENTS: The cross-sectional dimensions of the specimens must be measured. Care must be taken to avoid damage to strain gages. TESTING PROCEDURE: Note that the valve to the 200-psi pressure gage must be shut. As the load is applied to the specimen make sure no reading occurs on this gage. The gage will be damaged if the valve is open when pressures above 200-psi are being used. 1.) Install specimen between grips 2.) Zero strain indicator at the no load condition 3.) Load the plate in tension to a pressure of 500 psi 4.) Record data
REPORT:

Use the worksheet provided with the manual.

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STRESS CONCENTRATIONS EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

FIGURE 5

FIGURE 6

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STRESS CONCENTRATIONS EM 327: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS LABORATORY

FIGURE 7

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