Stress intensity factors for hypocycloidal hole with cusps in infinite anisotropic plate

• A generalized solution is presented for SIF at cusps of hypocycloidal hole in infinite anisotropic plate.
• Muskhelishvili’s complex variable approach is adopted.
• The effect of loading factor, stacking sequence, material parameters, hole geometry and fiber orientation on SIF is studied.

Using Muskhelishvili’s complex variable approach, general solution to calculate stress intensity factors (SIF) for hypocycloidal hole is obtained in infinite symmetric anisotropic plate.The stress functions are evaluated and numerical results are presented for Graphite/Epoxy, Glass/Epoxy and isotropic material. The effect of stacking sequence, hole geometry, material properties and loading angle on stress intensity factors is presented. The results in some cases are compared with the available literature and found in good agreement.