Stress distribution around polygonal holes

General solutions for determining the stress distribution around holes in an infinite plate subjected to arbitrary biaxial in-plane loadings at infinity, are obtained using Muskhelishvili's complex variable method. The stress functions are obtained by evaluating Cauchy's integral for the given boundary conditions.The generalized formulation thus obtained is coded and numerical results are presented for triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal and octagonal cut-out. The effect of the hole geometry and loading pattern on the stress concentration factor is studied. For some of the cases, plane stress finite element models are prepared in ANSYS and results are compared with present method.

► Muskhelishvili's complex variable approach is adopted. ► The infinite isotropic plates are considered. ► The effect of hole geometry and orientation and load angle is studied. ► The arbitrary biaxial loading condition adopted for biaxial loading.