Stress concentrations and failure criteria in anisotropic plates with circular holes subjected to tension or compression

Abstract

In this study, an investigation is carried out to determine the tensile and compressive stress concentrations and failure criteria for anisotropic composite plates with circular cut-outs. For these purposes, glass-epoxy and graphite-epoxy are used as a test material. A number of diagrams are drawn to illustrate the circumferential stress around the circumference of the cut-outs by using the various fiber orientation angle (α). The failure criteria and its location for anisotropic plates with and without cut-outs are determined by employing the modified distortion energy and Tsai-Hill failure theories respectively. A failure criteria is presented for predicting the externally applied tensile and compressive load which will initiate failure at the cut-outs. The location of the failure is also determined by using both theories and comparing them with each other. In addition, the stress concentration and failure location around the circumference of the cut-outs are determined for anisotropic plates with various fiber orientation angle (α).