Stress-concentration factors for elliptical holes near an edge

Experimental and theoretical stress-concentration factor and stress-intensity factor solutions exist for a large number of hole shapes and configurations. However, little work has been done on the interaction between holes and free edges. This paper reports the results of an experimental study which investigated elliptical holes close to each edge of a tension plate. The holes were symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the models and had their major axes normal to the edge of the plate. The ellipse ratio and the distance between the center and the edge were varied. A statistical model is developed which shows that the stress concentrationK _g at both ends of the ellipses is linearly dependent on a geometric function ? such thatK _g = αΦ + γ. The values for the function ? are given.