Stress Distribution in an Infinite Plate with Circular Hole by Modified Body Force Method

Abstract

Stress distribution in an infinite plate with circular hole subjected to uniform tension is determined by employing a modified body force method. In this method, the problem of a plate with a hole under uniform tension is considered as a plate with an imaginary hole. The boundary of the imaginary hole is divided into a number of divisions. At the mid-point of each division, concentrated forces known as body forces are applied. The magnitudes of these body forces are computed from complex potential functions, and stress at an arbitrary point is obtained by the summation of stresses due to these body forces applied at the mid-point of each division and stresses due to applied load. Results obtained from the modified body force method show trends in line with theoretical results. However, more accurate results can be obtained by using better estimate of body forces which satisfy boundary conditions at the circular hole. Setting Poisson’s ratio ν = 0 has little effect on the computed stress distribution.