KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering (0000) 00(0):1-7 Structural Engineering

Copyright 2015 Korean Society of Civil Engineers

DOI 10.1007/s12205-015-0510-1 pISSN 1226-7988, eISSN 1976-3808
www.springer.com/12205
TECHNICAL NOTE

Exact Deformation of a Rectangular Plate with a Central Circular Hole

under In-plane Loads
Jae-Hoon Kang*
Received July 2, 2015/Accepted October 11, 2015/Published Online November 30, 2015

Abstract

Exact solutions for stresses, strains, and displacements of a perforated rectangular plate by a central circular hole under both
linearly varying in-plane normal stresses on two opposite edges and in-plane shear stresses acting on its entire outer boundary are
investigated using the Airy stress function. The hoop stresses arising at the edge of the circular hole are also calculated and plotted.
Stress concentration factors (the maximum non-dimensional hoop stresses) depending upon the size of the circular hole and the in-
plane loading condition are tabularized.
Keywords: perforated plate, circular hole, airy stress function, exact solution, hoop stress, stress concentration factor

1. Introduction solutions for the perforated plate under in-plane pure shear
loading. Exact solutions for perforated plates with a central circular
Numerous researchers have studied the mechanical behaviors hole subjected to both linearly varying in-plane normal and shear
of perforated plates, with main considerations being classified into stresses have not been reported. The hoop stresses arising at the
four categories; stress concentration (Savin, 1961; Muskhelishvili, edge of the circular hole are computed and plotted. Comparisons
1963; Miyata, 1970; Timoshenko and Goodier, 1970; Peterson, are made for the stress concentration factors depending upon in-
1974; Iwaki and Miyao, 1980; Theocaris and Petrou, 1987; Mal plane loading types and size of the circular hole.
and Singh, 1991; Fu, 1996; Yang and He, 2002; Zhang et al.,
2002; She and Guo, 2007; Li et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2008; Yu et 2. Airy Stress Function
al., 2008; Radi, 2011; Kang, 2014; Woo et al., 2014), vibration,
buckling and fatigue. The various methods have been used to Figure 1 shows a perforated rectangular plate of lateral
study them. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is the most dimensions L h by a central circular hole of radius of a under
widely used for this perforated plate problems. Various methods both linearly varying in-plane normal stresses on two opposite
other than FEM have been used like the complex variable edges at x = L 2 and in-plane shear stresses 0 acting on its
method, three-dimensional stress analysis, the Ritz method, the entire outer boundary. Also the positive sign conventions for
boundary element method, the differential quadrature element stress components in polar coordinates (r, ) is presented. The
method, semi-analytical solution method, experimental method, plate is assumed to be very large compared with the circular
conjugate load/displacement method, and Galerkin averaging
method. Most of the perforated holes form three kinds of
circular, elliptical, or rectangular cutout.
In the present study, exact solutions for stresses, strains,
displacements, and stress concentration factors of a rectangular
plate with a central circular hole subjected to both linearly
varying in-plane normal stresses on two opposite edges and in-
plane shear stresses acting on its entire outer boundary are
investigated using the Airy stress function. Most of previous
analyzers have dealt with the perforated plate under uni-axial or
bi-axial tension. Timoshenko and Goodier (1970) presented Fig. 1. A Rectangular Plate with a Central Circular Hole under
exact solutions for a rectangular plate with a central circular hole Both Linearly Varying In-plane Normal Stresses on Two
under uni-axial tension. Mal and Singh (1991) obtained exact Opposite Edges and In-plane Shear Stresses

*Member, Professor, Dept. of Architectural Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea (Corresponding Author, E-mail: [email protected])

1
 Jae-Hoon Kang

1996). Eliminating the trivial terms in Eq. (4), the fundamental

Airy stress function 0 results in
0 0 ( 1 + ) 3 0 2
- y + ----- ( 1 )y 0 xy
= --------------------- (5)
6h 4
Using the relations of
x = r cos, y = r sin (6)
Fig. 2. Examples of In-plane Loading xx along the Edge x = L/2
and the formulas of multiple angles
2 1 cos2 3 3sin sin3
sin = ----------------------, sin = ------------------------------- (7)
hole. The origins of rectangular (x, y) and polar (r, ) coordinate 2 4
systems are located at the center of the plate.
Equation (5) can be converted into the bi-harmonic functions
First of all, considering a rectangular plate with no hole
in polar coordinates as
subjected to linearly varying in-plane normal stresses on two
opposite edges and in-plane shear stresses 0 acting on its entire 0 (1 + ) 3 3 2 2
= -----0- ---------------- ( 3r sin r sin3 ) 3 ( 1 ) ( r cos2 r )
outer boundary, the stress components become 24 h
(8)

2 0
0 ( 1 + ) 0 2
0
= ---------2- = ---------------------
- y + ----- ( 1 ) ----0 r sin2
xx 2
y h 2
2 0 which satisfies the governing equation 4 0 = 2( 2 0 ) = 0 ,
0
= ----------- = 0
xy where 22 is
xy 2 1 1 2
= -------2 + --- ----- + ----2 --------2 (9)
2 0 r r r r
0
yy = ---------2- = 0 (1) 4
x and is defined by
0 2 2 2
where is a fundamental Airy stress function, 0 is the 1 1 1 2
= ( ) = -------2 + 1 - + ---
4 2 2
--- ---- - + -------- ------- + --- ----- + ---- -------- (10)
intensity of compressive stress at y = h 2 , and is a r r r r2 2 r2 r r r2 2
numerical loading factor. By changing , we can obtain various
in polar coordinates. From the below relations between stresses
particular cases. For example, by taking = 1 we have the
and the Airy stress function in polar coordinates, the stresses in
case of uniformly distributed compressive force. When = 0 ,
the rectangular plate with no hole under linearly varying in-plane
the compressive force varies linearly from 0 at y = h 2 to
normal stresses and in-plane shear stresses 0 acting on its entire
zero at y = +h 2 . For = 1 we obtain the case of pure in-plane
outer boundary can be calculated as
bending. With other in the range 1 < < 1 , we have a
0 2 2
combination of bending and compression. Examples of these 0 1 1 1+
rr = --- -------- + ----2 ---------2- = -----0 ----------- ( sin + sin3 )r + ( 1 ) ( cos2 + 1 )
cases are shown in Fig. 2. For < 1 or > 1 the problems r r r 4 h
arising are identical with ones having 1 < < 1 . The fundamental + 0 sin2
Airy stress function 0 satisfies the governing equation 0
- 1--- + ( cos3 cos )r + ( 1 )sin2
-------- = -----0 1-----------
4 0 2 2 0 0
= ( ) = 0 with no body forces, where the Laplacian r = ----
2 r r 4 h

operator is expressed as
+ 0 cos2
2 2
2
= -------2 + -------2 (2) 0
2 0
1+
x y = ---------2- = -----0 ----------- ( 3sin sin3 )r ( 1 ) ( cos2 1 )
r 4 h (11)
and 4 is the bi-harmonic differential operator defined by 0 sin2
4 4 4
4 2 2 Returning to the original problem of a rectangular plate with a
= ( ) = -------4 + 2 --------------- + -------4 (3)
x 2
x y y
2 central circular hole, the total Airy function becomes
0 *
in rectangular coordinates. By means of the relation of the Airy = + (12)
stress function and the stress components in Eq. (1), the
where * is an Airy stress function to cancel unwanted traction
fundamental Airy function 0 can be assumed as
due to 0 on the edge of the circular hole (r = a). The normal
0 0 ( 1 + ) 3 0 2 stress rr and shear stress r on the edge of the circular hole (r
- y + ----- ( 1 )y 0xy + Ax + By + C
= --------------------- (4)
6h 4 = a) must be free as below
0 *
where A, B, and C are arbitrary integration constants. A linear rr r = a = [rr + rr ]r = a = 0
function of x or y and a constant in the Airy stress function are 0 *
r r = a = [ r + r ]r = a = 0 (13)
trivial terms which do not generate any stresses and strains (Fu,

2 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Exact Deformation of a Rectangular Plate with a Central Circular Hole under In-plane Loads

Table 1. Stresses of Bi-harmonic Functions Airy stress function 0 of Eq. (8) must be excluded in * in
rr r order not to disturb the traction boundary conditions in Eq. (1).
r2 2 0 2 The terms of rlnrsin and rcos give rise to multi-valued
lnr 1/r2 0 1/r2 displacements in ur and u. Singularity at infinity arises in
r2 lnr 2lnr+1 0 2lnr+3 stresses or displacements owing to the term of r5sin 3 , r4cos 2 ,
r3sin 2r sin 2r cos 6r sin and r4 sin 2 . The term of r2 ln r gives multi-valueness inu and
r cos 2sin/r 0 0 singularity in normal stress at infinity. Eliminating the inappropriate
rlnrsin sin/r cos/r sin/r terms, the total Airy stress function in Eq. (12) can be assumed
sin/r 2sin/r3 2cos/r3 2sin/r3 as
r2 cos2 2cos2 2sin2 2cos2
r4 cos2 0 6r2 sin2 12r2 cos2 (1 + ) 3 3 2 2
= ------0 ---------------- ( 3r sin r sin3 ) 3 ( 1 )( r cos2 r )
cose/r2 6cos2/r4 6sin2/r4 6cos2/r4 24 h
cos2 4cos2/r2 2sin2/r2 0 3 4 5
2 a sin- + C a
+ C1a lnr + C2 -------------- cos2- + C a2cos2 + C a sin3-
r3 sin3 6r sin3 6r cos3 6r sin3 3 ------------------ 4 5 -----------------
r r
2
r
3

r5 sin3 4r3 sin3 12r3 cos3 20r3sin3

3 4
sin3/r3 12sin3/r3 12cos3/r5 12sin3/r5 a sin3 2 2 a sin2
C6 + ------------------ ----0 r sin2 + C7 a sin2 + C8 -----------------
- (14)
sin3/r 10sin3/r3 6cos3/r3 2sin3/r3 r 2 r
2

r2sin2 2sin2 2cos2 2sin2

where C1~C8 are arbitrary integration constants which are
sin2 4sin2/r2 2cos2/r2 0
determined by the traction boundary conditions at r = a. In order
r4 sin2 0 6r2cos2 12r2sin2
to make the constants C1~C8 dimensionless, they are multiplied
sin2/r2 6sin2/r4 6cos2/r4 6sin2/r4
by a2, , a5 . Applying the following stress free boundary
conditions on the edge of the circular hole at r = a,
Therefore, *rr and *r on r = a must have terms of sin, 2
1 1
sin 3, cos 2, sin 2 or a constant and have cos, cos 3, sin 2, rr r = a = --- ------ + ----2 --------2 =0
r r r
or cos 2 respectively, in order to eliminate the stresses on r = a r=a

due to 0 in Eqs. (11). Tables 1 and 2 show the potential

1
candidates of the bi-harmonic functions for the present problem r r = a = ----- --- ------ =0 (15)
r r
identified as r2, lnr, r2 ln r, r3 sin, r cos, r ln r sin, sin/r, r2 r=a

cos 2, r4 cos 2, r3 sin 3, r5 sin 3, sin3/r3, sin 3/r, r3 sin 2, the unknown constants are computed as
sin 2, r4 sin 2, and sin2/r2 from the tables by Dundurs (Fu,
C1 = 6(1), C2 = 3(1+), C3 = 3(1 ), C4 = 6(1),
1996), which contain stresses and displacements of certain bi-
C5 = 2(1+), C6 = 3(1+), C7 = 2, C8 = 1 (16)
harmonic functions in polar coordinates. However, the five terms
of r3 sin, r3 sin 3, r2 cos2, r2, and r2 sin 2 in the fundamental where is a ratio of a/h. Thus the total Airy stress function

Table 2. Displacements of Bi-harmonic Functions

2ur 2u
r2 (1)r 0
lnr 1/r 0
r2lnr (1)rlnrr (+1)r
r3sin (2)r2sin (+2)r2cos
rcos [(1)cos(+1)lnrsin+sin]/2 [(1)sin(+1)lnrcos+cos]/2
rlnrsin [(+1)cos+(1)lnrsinsin]/2 [(+1)sin+(1)lnrcoscos]/2
sin/r sin/r2 cos/r2
r2cos2 2rcos2 2rsin2
r4cos2 (3)r3cos2 (3+)r3sin2
cos2/r2 2cos2/r3 2sin2/r3
r3sin3 3r2sin2 3r2cos2
r5sin3 (4)r4sin3 (4+)r4cos3
sin3/r3 3sing3/r4 3cos3/r4
sin3/r (2+)sin3/r2 (2)cos3/r2
r2sin2 2rsin2 2rcos2
sin2 (+1)sin2/r (1)cos2/r
r4sin2 3(3)r3sin2 (3+)r3cos2
sin2/r2 2sin2/r3 2cos2/r3

Vol. 00, No. 0 / 000 0000 3

 Jae-Hoon Kang

finally becomes

( 1 + ) 3 3 2 2
= ------0 ------------------- ( 3r sin r sin3 ) + 3 ( 1 ) ( r cos2 r )
24 a

6a ( 1 )lnr + 3a ( 1 + ) sin
---------- + 3a ( 1 ) cos2
2 3 4
-------------
-
r r
2

(17)
sin3
2 5
- + 3a3 ( 1 + ) sin3
6a ( 1 )cos2 2a ( 1 + ) ------------ -------------
r
3
r
4
2 2 a sin2
----0 r sin2 2a sin2 + -----------------
-
2 r
2

3. Stresses Fig. 3. Non-dimensional Shear Stress r/0 for = 1, = 0.1 and

= 0o
Substituting the total Airy stress function in Eq. (17) into the
relations between the stresses and the Airy stress function in
(1970).
polar coordinates in Eq. (11), the stresses can be calculated as
Mal and Singh (1991) presented the exact stresses in a
rectangular plate with a central hole under in-plane pure shear
(0 = 0). Substituting 0 = 0 into Eqs. (18), the stress components
become
2 4
4a 3a
rr = 0 1 -------
- + -------
- sin2
r
2
r
4

2 4
2a 3a
r = 1 + -------
- -------
- cos2
r
2 4
r
4
3a
= 0 1 + -------
- sin2 (21)
r
4

which exactly coincide with those by Mal and Singh (1991).

As a numerical example, Fig. 3 shows the non-dimensional
shear stress r 0 for = 1, = 0.1 and = 0o with = 0/0 =
(18)
1, 0.5, 0, 0.5, and 1 where = r/a.
The limiting case of a plate with no hole ( a 0 , 0 ), the
stresses is calculated as 4. Displacements

rr = -----0 ( 1 ) ( cos2 + 1 ) 0sin2 Using the table by Dundurs (Fu, 1996), displacement components
4
can be easily calculated by selecting and summing the displacement
0
r = ----- ( 1 )sin2 + 0 cos2 corresponding to each term in the total Airy stress functions in
4
Eq. (17). The displacement components are as below
0
= ----- ( 1 ) ( cos2 1 ) 0 sin2 (19)
4 0 ( 2 ) 2 a3 2 5
r 2a a ( + 2 )
3

r = --------- ( 1 + ) ---------------r + ----2 sin + ---- -------
4
- sin3
- + --------------------
2
16 a r a r r
Timoshenko and Goodier (1970) analyzed the exact stresses in
a rectangular plate with a central circular hole under uni-axial 4 2 2
a a ( + 1) 1 a
uniform compression ( = 1, 0 = 0). Substituting = 1 and 0 2 ( 1 ) r ----3 + --------------------- cos2 + ----------- r + ----
r r 2 r

= 0 into the stress components in Eqs. (18) results in
2 4
a ( + 1 ) a
2 2 4 + ------0 r + --------------------- ----3 sin2
a 4a- 3a
rr = -----0 1 ----2 + 1 ------- - cos2
+ ------- 2 r r
2 r r
2 4
r r2 2a5 a3 ( 2 ) 3

0 2( + 2) 2 a
- ( 1 + ) ---- + -------
u = -------- - + -------------------- cos3 ------------------- r + ----2 cos

2
2a 3a
4
16 a r4 2 a r
r = -----0 1 + -------
- -------
- sin2 r
2 r
2
r
4
4 2 2 4
a a ( 1) a ( 1) a
+2 ( 1 ) r + ----3 + -------------------- sin2 + ------0 r + -------------------- + ----3 cos2

2 4 r r r
a 3a- 2 r
= -----0 1 + ----2 1 + ------- cos2 (20)
2 r r
4
(22)
which are exactly same with those by Timoshenko and Goodier where is shear modulus and is a secondary elastic constant

4 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Exact Deformation of a Rectangular Plate with a Central Circular Hole under In-plane Loads

Fig. 4. Non-dimensional Displacement u/a0 for = 0.1, = 0.1, Fig. 5. Non-dimensional Strain rr/0 for = 0.1 and = 90o
= 0.3, and = 0o

The limiting case of a plate with no hole ( a 0 , 0 ), the

defined by strains become as below:
2 1
= ----------- (23) rr = -----0- ( 1 ) cos2 + ----------- + -----0-sin2
1+ 8 2 2

for the plane stress problems. r = -----0- ( 1 )sin2 + -----0-cos2
8 2
The limiting case of a plate with no hole ( a 0 , 0 ), the
1
displacements are calculated as below: = -----0- ( 1 ) cos2 ----------- -----0-sin2 (27)
8 2 2
0r 1
r = ------- - ( 1 ) cos2 + ----------- + -----0-r sin2 As a numerical example, Fig. 5 shows the non-dimensional
8 2 2
strain rr 0 for = 0.1 and = 90o, which is independent
0r 0
= -------- ( 1 )sin2 + ------ rcos2 (24) of .
8 2

As a numerical example, Fig. 4 shows the non-dimensional 6. Stress Concentration Factor

displacement u a 0 for = 0.1, = 0.1, = 0.3, and = 0o.
The circumferential stress arising at the edge of the
5. Strains circular hole (r = a) is called the hoop stress Hoop = r = a . By
means of Eq. (18), the non-dimensional hoop stress results in
Substituting the displacement components in Eqs. (22) into the

following well-known relations of strain-displacement in polar ------- = 1--- ( 1 ) ( 2cos2 1 ) ( 1 + ) ( sin3 sin ) 4sin2
0 r = a 2
coordinates
(28)
u u 1 u 1 u
rr = -------r , r = 1--- r ----
----
- - + --- -------r , = --- -------- + ur (25) where is the ratio of stresses defined by = 0 0 , is the ratio
r 2 r r r r
of a/h, and is the loading factor (cf. Fig. 2). It is interesting to
the strains can be computed as

Fig. 6. Non-dimensional Hoop Stresses Hoop/0 for = 0.2 and =

(26) 0.5

Vol. 00, No. 0 / 000 0000 5

 Jae-Hoon Kang

7. Conclusions

Exact solutions for stresses, strains, and displacement of a

rectangular plate with a central circular hole under both linearly
varying in-plane normal stresses on two opposite edges and in-plane
pure shear stresses acting on its entire outer boundary are investigated
using the Airy stress function. The hoop (circumferential) stresses
arising at the edge of the hole and the stress concentration factor
depending upon the in-plane loading conditions and the size of
the hole are plotted and computed.
Taking the multi-valueness and the singularity in stresses and
displacements into account, once proper bi-harmonic functions
( r, ) for a certain problem, which satisfy both the governing
Fig. 7. Non-dimensional Hoop Stresses Hoop/0 for = 1 and = equation ( 4 = 0 ) with no body forces in polar coordinates and
0.1 traction boundary conditions, are selected from the table
presented by Dundurs (Fu, 1996), which comprises stresses and
displacements of certain bi-harmonic functions, the stress and
displacement components according to the bi-harmonic functions
can be easily selected from the table, and then strain components
can be calculated from the relations of strain-displacement in
Eqs. (25).

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