Effect of different hole shapes on the stress intensity factor of the finite plate with edge crack

Abstract

Generally, flaws or defects are formed while manufacturing the components either internally or externally. Not all such flaws are unstable under service conditions. Cracks are often developed in the structural member due to high-stress concentration factors. Fracture mechanics help us in evaluating the life and safety of structures in the presence of cracks. This is accomplished by analyzing the intensity of the crack condition by estimating certain fracture parameters. This study aims at evaluating the mode I stress intensity factor (SIF) of a finite plate with edge crack in the presence of different hole shapes. The holes are placed along and perpendicular to the crack axis. The objective is to study the effect of the size, number, and shape of holes on the mode I SIF through finite element simulation. A 2D finite plate with an edge crack submitted to tensile loading was validated against analytical results. It was found from the simulation the existence of a range of distance from the crack tip within which when the holes are placed, results in the decrease of SIF. Beyond a certain distance that is far from the crack tip, the introduction of holes does not affect the SIF. When the elliptical holes (either single or multiple) was placed along the crack axis, it reduces the SIF effectively better than the circular and square hole. On the other hand, a single square hole when placed about the vertical axis, was found to diminish the SIF effectively relative to circular and elliptical holes. Similarly, the multiple circular holes reduce the SIF significantly more than the square and elliptical holes about the vertical axis.