World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 60 2009

Analysis of Stress Concentration and Deflection

in Isotropic and Orthotropic Rectangular Plates
with Central Circular Hole under Transverse
Static Loading
Nitin Kumar Jain
Xiwu et al. [4,5] evaluated stress concentration of finite
composite laminates with elliptical hole and multiple elliptical
holes based on classical laminated plate theory. Iwaki [6]
worked on stress concentrations in a plate with two unequal
circular holes. Ukadgaonker and Rao [7] proposed a general
solution for stresses around holes in symmetric laminates by
introducing a general form of mapping function and an
arbitrary biaxial loading condition in to the boundary
conditions. Ting et al. [8] presented a theory for stress analysis
by using rhombic array of alternating method for multiple
circular holes. Chaudhuri [9] worked on stress concentration
around a part through hole weakening a laminated plate by
finite element method. Peterson [16] has developed good
theory and charts on the basis of mathematical analysis and
presented excellent methodology in graphical form for
evaluation of stress concentration factors in isotropic plates
under in-plane loading with different types of abrupt change,
but no results are presented for transverse loading.
In this article a study of rectangular isotropic and
orthotropic plate with central circular hole upon the effect of
D/A ratio on SCF under transverse static loading is made. The
purpose of this research work is to investigate the effect of
D/A ratio on SCF for normal stress in X, Y directions (x, y)
and shear stress in XY plane (xy), and on deflection in
transverse direction (Uz). The Uz for different ratio of D/A is
compared with deflection in transverse direction in plate
without hole (Uz*). Results are obtained for three different
boundary conditions. The analytical treatment for such type of
problem is very difficult and hence the finite element method
adopt for whole analysis.

AbstractThe distributions of stresses and deflection in

rectangular isotropic and orthotropic plates with central
circular hole under transverse static loading have been studied
using finite element method. The aim of author is to analyze
the effect of D/A ratio (where D is hole diameter and A is plate
width) upon stress concentration factor (SCF) and deflection
in isotropic and orthotropic plates under transverse static
loading. The D/A ratio is varied from 0.01 to 0.9. The analysis
is done for plates of isotropic and two different orthotropic
materials. The results are obtained for three different boundary
conditions. The variations of SCF and deflection with respect
to D/A ratio are presented in graphical form and discussed.
The finite element formulation is carried out in the analysis
section of the ANSYS package.
KeywordsFinite Element Method, SCF, Deflection, Plate,
Boundary conditions
I.

INTRODUCTION

rectangular isotropic or orthotropic plate with central

circular hole under transverse static loading, have found
widespread applications in various fields of engineering such
as aerospace, marine, automobile and mechanical. For design
of plates with hole, accurate knowledge of deflection, stresses
and stress concentration are required. Stress concentration
arises from any abrupt change in geometry of plate under
loading. As a result, stress distribution is not uniform
throughout the cross section. Failures such as fatigue cracking
and plastic deformation frequently occur at points of stress
concentration.
Paul and Rao [1,2] presented a theory for evaluation of stress
concentration factor of thick and FRP laminated plate with the
help of Lo-Christensen-Wu higher order bending theory under
transverse loading. Shastry and Raj [3] have analyzed the
effect of fibre orientation for a unidirectional composite
laminate with finite element method by assuming a plane
stress problem under in plane static loading.

II. DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM

To study the influence of D/A ratio upon deflection and
SCF for different stresses, a rectangular plate of dimension
200 mm X 100 mm X 1 mm with a circular hole of diameter D
at centre under uniformly distributed static loading of P = 0.02
Newton in transverse direction for all cases is analyzed by
finite element method. Fig. 1 shows the basic model of the
problem. The entire dimensions are also shown in Fig.1. The
D/A ratio is varied from 0.1 to 0.9.

Dr. N. K. Jain is with the Department of Applied Mechanics, National

Institute of Technology Raipur (C.G.)-492010, INDIA (E-mail:
nkjmanit@rediffmail.com, nitinkumarjain2001@yahoo.co.in).

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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 60 2009

following Table I. Where; E, G and represent modulus of

elasticity, modulus of rigidity and poissons ratio respectively.

P Newton

Materials
Properties
Ex
Ey
Ez
Gxy
Gyz
Gzx
xy
yz
zx

A=100 mm

200 mm

Fig. 1 Basic model of the problem

III.

39 GPa
-------------------------------------------------------0.3
-----------------------

Orthotropic-1
(E-glass/epoxy)
39 GPa
8.6 GPa
8.6 GPa
3.8 GPa
3.8 GPa
3.8 GPa
0.28
0.28
0.28

Orthotropic-2
(Boron Aluminum)
235 GPa
137 GPa
137 GPa
47 GPa
47 GPa
47 GPa
0.30
0.30
0.30

Plates with three different boundary conditions, as plate (a),

(b) and (c) are analyzed. In plate (a); all edges are simply
supported, in plate (b); all edges are fixed, in plate (c); two
edges are fixed and other two are simply supported. Fig. 3
provides the boundary conditions at all edges of plates (a), (b)
and (c).

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

An eight nodded Structural 3-D Shell Element (specified as

Shell93 in ANSYS package) with element length of 2 mm,
was selected based on convergence test and used through out
the study. Each node has six degrees of freedom, making a
total 48 degrees of freedom per element. In order to construct
the graphical image of the geometries of models for different
D/A ratios, rectangular isotropic and orthotropic plates
examined using the ANSYS (Advanced Engineering
Simulation). Mapped meshing are used for all models so that
more elements are employed near the hole boundary. Due to
the symmetric nature of different models investigated, it was
necessary to discretize the quadrant plate for finite element
analysis. Main task in finite element analysis is selection of
suitable element type. Numbers of checks and convergence
test are made for selection of suitable element type from
different available elements and to decide the element length.
Fig. 2 provides the example of the discretized models for D/A
=0.2, used in study.

Uz=0, Ux=0
Uz=0,
Uy=0

(a)

Uz=0,
Uy=0

All DOF=0

Uz=0, Ux=0
All DOF=0

(b)

All DOF=0

Isotropic

All DOF=0
All DOF=0

Uz=0, Ux=0

(c)

All DOF=0

1 mm

TABLE I
MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF USED MATERIALS IN ANALYSIS

Uz=0, Ux=0
Fig. 3 Boundary conditions at all edges of plates (a), (b) and (c)

Stresses and deflections are obtained for uniformly

distributed loads P = 0.02 Newton for all cases and D/A ratios.
The stresses and deflection in transverse direction (Uz*) for
full plate (a), (b) and (c), made of different materials under
uniformly distributed load of 0.02 Newton are listed in Table
II.
Fig. 4 shows the effect of D/A ratio on SCF (for x, y and
xy) and Uz/Uz* in plates (a), (b) and (c) of isotropic material.
Following observations can be made from these results.

Fig. 2 Typical example of finite element model for D/A=0.2

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Numerical results are presented for isotropic and
orthotropic rectangular plates with a central circular hole. The
material properties of different used materials are shown in

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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 60 2009

TABLE II
STRESSES AND DEFLECTION FOR FULL PLATE
Material Type Plate x (N/m2) y (N/m2) xy (N/m2)
(a)
2803.10 6122.60 3376.90
(b)
3415.00 4969.80
634.29
Isotropic
(c)
7151.00 5224.80 2061.30
(a)
6499.60 5301.40 2809.90
7345.10 4541.90
577.27
Orthotropic-1 (b)
(c)
13725.00 3224.80 1534.00
(a)
3721.80 6146.00 2608.70
4473.70 4956.60
536.16
Orthotropic-2 (b)
(c)
9290.90 4807.50 1699.10

compare to other stresses i.e. it is remembered that SCF for y

is more important in plates (a) and (b) and SCF for x is more
important in plate (c).
Fig. 5 shows the effect of D/A ratio on SCF (for x, y and
xy) and Uz/Uz* in plates (a), (b) and (c) of orthotropic
material-1. Following observations can be made from these
results. Variation of SCF for x with respect to D/A ratio
observed, maximum in case of plate (a) and significant in case
of plates (b) and (c). In case of plate (a); SCF for x decreased
from 5.19 to 1.18 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.4
and increased from 1.18 to 1.35 with increase of D/A ratio
from 0.4 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for x increased from
0.70 to 1.00 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. In
case of plate (c); SCF for x decreased from 1.84 to 0.82 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.1, increased from 0.82 to
0.91 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.1 to 0.5 and again
decreased from 0.91 to 0.83 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.5 to 0.9. Variation of SCF for y with respect to D/A ratio
observed, maximum in case of plates (a) and (c) and
significant in case of plates (b). In case of plate (a); SCF for y
continuously decreased from 6.25 to 1.39 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for y
decreased from 1.50 to 1.26 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.01 to 0.03, increased from 1.26 to 1.29 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.03 to 0.1 and again decreased from 1.29 to 0.73
with increase of D/A ratio from 0.1 to 0.9. In case of plate (c);
SCF for y continuously decreased from 7.10 to 0.52 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. Variation of SCF for xy
with respect to D/A ratio observed, significant for all boundary
conditions. In case of plate (a); SCF for xy decreased from
4.06 to 2.84 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.07 and
increased from 2.84 to 3.78 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.07 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for xy decreased from
3.81 to 3.12 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.05,
increased from 3.12 to 3.18 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.05 to 0.2 and again decreased from 3.18 to 1.64 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.2 to 0.9. In case of plate (c); SCF
for xy decreased from 5.25 to 1.91 with increase of D/A ratio
from 0.01 to 0.2, increased from 1.91 to 1.98 with increase of
D/A ratio from 0.2 to 0.4 and again decreased from 1.98 to
1.47 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.4 to 0.9. Variation of
Uz/Uz* with respect to D/A ratio observed, maximum in case
of plate (a), significant in plate (c) and minimum in plate (b).
In case of plate (a); the ratio of Uz/Uz*increased from 0.89 to
1.26 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.4 and decreased
from 1.26 to 1.14 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.4 to 0.9. In
case of plate (b); the ratio of Uz/Uz* increased from 0.51 to
0.72 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.8 and decreased
from 0.72 to 0.70 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.8 to 0.9. In
case of plate (c); the ratio of Uz/Uz* increased from 0.95 to
1.17 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.2 and decreased
from 1.17 to 0.57 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.2 to 0.9. It
is clear from table 1 that in case of orthotropic material-1, for
all plates (a), (b) and (c) x attained more in compare to other
stresses i.e. it is remembered that SCF for x is more important
than SCF for y and xy.

Uz* (m)
2.85E-07
7.10E-08
2.37E-07
1.20E-06
3.07E-07
7.23E-07
8.42E-08
2.09E-08
6.42E-08

Variation of SCF for x with respect to D/A ratio observed,

maximum in case of plate (a) and significant in case of plates
(b) and (c). In case of plate (a); SCF for x increased from
1.65 to 2.11 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.06 and
decreased from 2.11 to 0.89 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.08 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for x almost unchanged
with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.5 and slight
increased from 1.07 to 1.30 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.5 to 0.9. In case of plate (c); SCF for x increased from 1.00
to 1.20 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. Variation
of SCF for y with respect to D/A ratio observed, maximum in
case of plate (c), significant in case of plates (a) and almost
negligible in case of plate (b). In case of plate (a); SCF for y
increased from 1.44 to 1.81 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.01 to 0.08 and decreased from 1.81 to 1.31 with increase of
D/A ratio from 0.1 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for y
almost unchanged with increase of D/A ratio. In case of plate
(c); SCF for y increased from 1.44 to 1.82 with increase of
D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.1 and decreased from 1.82 to 0.88
with increase of D/A ratio from 0.1 to 0.9. Variation of SCF
for xy with respect to D/A ratio observed, maximum in case of
plate (b) and significant in plates (a) and (c). In case of plate
(a); SCF for xy fluctuated between 0.9 to 1.25 with increase of
D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for xy
increased from 1.33 to 2.37 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.01 to 0.1, decreased from 2.37 to 1.31 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.1 to 0.6 and again increased from 1.31 to 1.61
with increase of D/A ratio from 0.6 to 0.9. In case of plate (c);
SCF for xy increased from 0.98 to 1.81 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.01 to 0.1 and decreased from 1.81 to 1.06 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.1 to 0.9. Variation of Uz/Uz* with
respect to D/A ratio observed, maximum in case of plate (a),
significant in plate (c) and minimum in plate (b). In case of
plate (a); the ratio of Uz/Uz*increased from 1.00 to 1.33 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.6 and decreased from 1.33
to 1.26 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.6 to 0.9. In case of
plate (b); the ratio of Uz/Uz* increased from 1.00 to 1.10 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.2, decreased from 1.10 to
0.95 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.2 to 0.7 and again
increased from 0.95 to 0.99 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.7 to 0.9. In case of plate (c); the ratio of Uz/Uz* increased
from 1.00 to 1.24 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.4
and decreased from 1.24 to 0.90 with increase of D/A ratio
from 0.4 to 0.9. It is clear from table 1 that in case of isotropic
material, for plates (a) and (b) y attained more in compare to
other stresses and in case of plate (c) x attained more in

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World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 60 2009

Fig. 6 shows the effect of D/A ratio on SCF (for x, y and

xy) and Uz/Uz* in plates (a), (b) and (c) of orthotropic
material-2. Following observations can be made from these
results. Variation of SCF for x with respect to D/A ratio
observed, maximum in case of plate (a) and significant in case
of plates (b) and (c). In case of plate (a); SCF for x decreased
from 3.51 to 0.82 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.5
and increased from 0.82 to 0.85 with increase of D/A ratio
from 0.5 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for x continuously
increased from 0.92 to 1.22 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.01 to 0.9. In case of plate (c); SCF for x decreased from
1.25 to 0.92 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.1 and
increased from 0.92 to 1.07 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.1 to 0.9. Variation of SCF for y with respect to D/A ratio
observed, maximum in case of plates (a) and (c) and
significant in case of plates (b). In case of plate (a); SCF for y
continuously decreased from 2.52 to 1.36 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for y
increased from 1.05 to 1.07 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.01 to 0.1, decreased from 1.07 to 0.83 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.1 to 0.7 and again increased from 0.83 to 0.85
with increase of D/A ratio from 0.7 to 0.9. In case of plate (c);
SCF for y continuously decreased from 2.64 to 0.76 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.9. Variation of SCF for xy
with respect to D/A ratio observed, significant for all boundary
conditions. In case of plate (a); SCF for xy increased from
1.87 to 2.27 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.03,
decreased from 2.27 to 1.65 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.03 to 0.2 and again increased from 1.65 to 2.11 with increase
of D/A ratio from 0.2 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); SCF for xy
increased from 2.71 to 3.21 with increase of D/A ratio from
0.01 to 0.03, decreased from 3.21 to 1.56 with increase of D/A
ratio from 0.03 to 0.5, again increased from 1.56 to 1.86 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.5 to 0.8 and again decreased from
1.86 to 1.80 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.8 to 0.9. In case
of plate (c); SCF for xy increased from 2.43 to 2.95 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.03 and decreased from
2.95 to 1.24 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.03 to 0.9.
Variation of Uz/Uz* with respect to D/A ratio observed,
maximum in case of plate (a), significant in plate (c) and
minimum in plate (b). In case of plate (a); the ratio of
Uz/Uz*increased from 0.93 to 1.26 with increase of D/A ratio
from 0.01 to 0.5 and decreased from 1.26 to 1.21 with increase
of D/A ratio from 0.5 to 0.9. In case of plate (b); the ratio of
Uz/Uz* increased from 0.79 to 0.89 with increase of D/A ratio
from 0.01 to 0.2, decreased from 0.89 to 0.86 with increase of
D/A ratio from 0.2 to 0.5 and again increased from 0.86 to
0.92 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.5 to 0.9. In case of plate
(c); the ratio of Uz/Uz* increased from 0.94 to 1.16 with
increase of D/A ratio from 0.01 to 0.3 and decreased from 1.16
to 0.76 with increase of D/A ratio from 0.3 to 0.9. It is clear
from table 1 that in case of orthotropic material-2, for plates
(a) and (b) y attained more in compare to other stresses and in
case of plate (c) x attained more in compare to other stresses
i.e. it is remembered that SCF for y is more important in
plates (a) and (b) and SCF for x is more important in plate (c).

V.

CONCLUSIONS

In general; for plates (a) and (c), the maximum stress

concentration is always occurred on hole boundary and in case
of plates (b), the maximum stress concentration is occurred on
supports. The SCF for x and y varied maximum in plates (a)
and (c) and minimum in plate (b), where the SCF for xy varied
significant in plates (a), (b) and (c) with respect to D/A ratio
for all materials. The variation of SCF for all stresses with
respect to D/A ratio observed more in orthotropic plates as
compare to isotropic plates for all boundary conditions. The
SCF for all stresses is achieved more in orthotropic plate as
compare to isotropic plate for respective boundary conditions.
It is also observed that variation of SCF for all stresses with
D/A ratio; highly depends on elastic constants and differ with
material to material. For all materials, stress concentration for
x and y occurred maximum in plates (a) and (c) and
minimum in plate (b), where Stress concentration for xy
occurred significant in plates (a), (b) and (c), hence the SCF
for x and y plays an important role in design of plates (a) and
(c) and a minor role in design of plate (b), where the SCF for
xy plays an important role in design of plates (a), (b) and (c).
Maximum deflection in transverse direction occurred for plate
(a) and minimum deflection in transverse direction occurred
for plate (b) for all cases. The variation of Uz/Uz* with D/A
ratio has maximum in plate (a), significant in plate (c) and
minimum in plate (b) for all materials. It is also observed that
the trend of variation of Uz/Uz* with D/A ratio is almost same
for all materials for respective boundary conditions. For all
materials; in case of plate (a) and (c), the Uz/Uz* first increased
with increase of D/A ratio and after some increase, decreased
with increase of D/A ratio, but in case of plate (b) the Uz/Uz*
fluctuated between a small range with respect to D/A ratio.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Author is highly thankful to the department and institute for
providing all type of support and facilities to carry out the
work.
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