Concept of Stress Concentration

Theoretical stress
concentration factor, Kt

Maximum stress at the discontinuity

Nominal stress, max stress

with no discontinuity

Kt is used for normal

stresses and Kts for
shear stresses.

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Concept of Stress Concentration
Consider an elliptical hole in an infinitely large plate loaded in uniform
tension. Using the theory of elasticity the theoretical stress concentration
factor is given by the equation below.

2b

2a

Elliptical hole

• For a circular hole Kt = 3

• The equation can be applied to a longitudinal crack where b << a

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor
Stress concentration factor is found using experimental methods.
• Photoelasticity – a plane polarized light is passed thru a
photelastic material (all transparent plastics) resulting in a
colorful fringe pattern indicating the intensity of the stress.

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor
• Brittle Coating – a specially
prepared lacquers are usually
applied by spraying on the actual
part. After air drying, the part is
subjected to stress. A pattern of
small cracks appear on the surface.
Data could be used to locate strain
gages for precise measurement of
the stress. The method is sensitive
to temperature and humidity.

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor
• Electrical strain gauges
The method is the most popular and widely accepted for strain measurements and
stress analysis. The strain gauge consists of a grid of strain-sensitive metal foil
bonded to a plastic backing material. When the gauge is subjected to a mechanical
deformation, its electrical resistance changes proportionally. The change in voltage
is converted to strain and the stress is calculated from the strain.

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor
• Finite Element method
 The CAD model is subdivided into many small pieces of simple
shapes called elements.
 FEA program writes the equations governing the behavior of each
element taking into consideration its connectivity to other elements.
 These equations relate the unknowns, for example displacements in
stress analysis, to known material properties, restraints and loads.

 The program assembles the

equations into a large set of
simultaneous algebraic
equations (thousands or even
millions).
 These equations are then
solved by the program to
obtain the stress distribution
for the entire model.

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor

Round section
with a fillet

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor

Flat plate
with a hole

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace

 Stress Concentration Factor

Flat plate
with a hole

Ken Youssefi Mechanical & Aerospace