Review of the Accuracy of Stress Concentration Factors

Abstract

Engineers rely on published results and data to be correct. If it wasn't, then they would be "reinventing the wheel" every time. This research will review the published results of stress concentration factors for semicircular edge notch geometry. It will be shown that two published sources show significantly different values for the stress concentrations of the semicircular edge notch geometry. Transverse holes and waist geometry will also be reviewed. The references will be compared with photoelastic models as well as FEA results. Results show that there exists a discrepancy between the published sources. There is a significant difference in the resulting stress concentration values for the same geometries. Photoelastic results were inconclusive based on error in the manufacturing and photoelastic analysis performed for this report and could have been responsible for errors in earlier sources. It is also noted that Finite Element Analysis is a viable alternative for characterizing the stress concentration values of geometry, as it has become a common tool for engineers.