The Stresses Around Square Holes with Rounded Corners

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical solution for the stress distribution around a square hole with rounded corners in an infinite plate subjected to pure tension. The method of solution is a combination of a conformal mapping technique and the complexvariable method of Muskhelishvili. The form of the mapping function is obtained from the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation. The mapping function is general and gives a good approximation to square holes with rounded corners of arbitrary radius of curvature. The ratios of the corner radius to the width of the opening considered cover the range from 0.03 to 0.5. This is considered 1o be the interesting range for ship structures. The results are given in terms of stress concentrations around the boundary of the opening.