A general solution for stresses around holes in symmetric laminates

under inplane loading

V.G. Ukadgaonker
*
, D.K.N. Rao
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, India
Abstract
Adapting the formulation given by Savin for stresses around holes in anisotropic plates under inplane loading, a general solution
is obtained to consider an arbitrary shape of hole and arbitrarily oriented uniaxial, biaxial, and shear stresses at innity as well as
uniform tangential force, and uniform pressure around the hole. This is achieved by introducing a general form of mapping function
and an arbitrary biaxial loading condition into the boundary conditions. In addition, the basic formulation is extended for mul-
tilayered plates. By introducing into the computer program, the constants of the mapping function, the arbitrary biaxial loading
factor, the orientation angle and the complex parameters for the laminate, the stresses around the hole can be easily obtained. This
solution is useful to study the eect of the above parameters on stress distribution. To illustrate the usefulness of the solution, results
are obtained for various shapes of holes, loading conditions and laminate geometry. Failure strength is determined using dierent
failure criteria. It is noted that the stress distribution around a given a shape of hole depends on the combined eect of hole ge-
ometry, type of loading and laminate geometry. 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Stress concentrations; Anisotropic plates; Composite laminates
www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruct
Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
Notation
a
1
, b
1
, a
2
, b
2
constants related with
anisotropy
a
3
, b
3
, a
4
, b
4
complex constants
B determinant of the stiness
matrix
B
+
; B
/+
; C
/+
loading condition constants
E
1
, E
2
, G
12
, m
12
engineering constants of a
lamina
f
1
, f
2
rst stage stress boundary
conditions on the hole
f
0
1
; f
0
2
second stage stress boundary
conditions on the hole
k, N numbers associated with the
terms of the mapping function
K
1
K
4
; K
1
K
4
complex constants and their
conjugates
m
k
constants of the mapping
function
p uniform pressure intensity on
hole boundary
s length of arc on unit circle
s
j
(j = 1; . . . ; 4) complex parameters of
anisotropy
t value of f on unit circle
T tangential force on hole
boundary
X
n
, Y
n
resultant stress components
on hole boundary
z complex coordinate,
z = x iy
z
j
anisotropic complex coordi-
nate, z
j
= x s
j
y
u ber orientation angle
b orientation angle of loading
e
x
, e
y
, c
xy
longitudinal and shear strains
f mapped coordinate of the
complex variable, z
f
1
, f
2
mapped coordinates of the
two complex variables: z
1
, z
2
k biaxial loading factor
q, h orthogonal curvilinear
coordinates
r value of stress in y
/
direction
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-22-576-7543; fax: +91-22-578-
3480.
E-mail address: vgu@me.iitb.ernet.in (V.G. Ukadgaonker).
0263-8223/00/$ - see front matter 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 2 6 3 - 8 2 2 3 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 0 7 0 - 2
1. Introduction
Fiber reinforced composite laminates nd wide ap-
plications in aerospace, underwater, automotive and
many other weight sensitive structures. Cutouts of dif-
ferent shapes will be made into the laminates for prac-
tical reasons. In order to predict the structural
behaviour of these laminates with some degree of as-
surance, a detailed study of the eect of hole geometry,
type of loading and laminate geometry on stress distri-
bution around the hole is necessary.
Analytical solutions are available in the literature
with dierent degree of mathematical complexity. Many
of them considered only certain shapes of holes and few
cases of loading. Lekhnitskii [1] gave solutions for
stresses around dierent shapes of holes using series
method. These shapes are more approximate. Savins [2]
approach by conformal mapping and Schwarz formula
is much simpler. Green [3] has given solutions for stress
concentration problems in isotropic and aelotropic
plates. The solution given by Stephens [4] for a curvi-
linear triangular hole in aelotropic plate involves heavy
algebra. The rst analytical solution for multilayered
composite laminates with a circular hole is given by
Greszczuk [5]. Greszczuk obtained the failure strength
and location of failure based on Henckyvon Mises (H
vM) theory using the equations given by Fischer [6].
Hayashi [7] considered an arbitrary shape of hole in
CFRP laminate. This solution is based on series ap-
proach. Jong [8] adopted a variant of Lekhnitskii's [1]
series method and the stress functions are determined by
Cauchy integrals. Elaborate results are given for square,
rectangular and circular holes in CFRP laminates of
various geometry considering uniaxial, biaxial and shear
stresses. Using Stroh formalism, Hwu [9] gave a solution
to consider circular, elliptical, oval, square and pentag-
onal shaped holes in anisotropic plates. These shapes are
approximate since Hwu employed the same mapping
function as that of Lekhnitskii [1]. Hufenbach et al. [10]
gave solution for the case of an elliptical hole in aniso-
tropic plate under uniaxial tension at dierent angles. In
another solution, Hufenbach and Kroll [11] considered
triangular, oval and square holes in a single layered
plate subjected to tension as well as bending. The eect
of hole geometry, ber orientation and angle of loading
on stresses around the hole are studied. Daoust and Hoa
[12] gave the solution for a triangular hole in anisotropic
plate. This solution considers any ratio of base length
and height of the triangle. Ukadgaonker and Rao [13]
have extended Daoust and Hoas [12] solution for mul-
tilayered plates and considered several cases of inplane
loading.
Theocaris and Petrou [14,15] considered triangular,
and rectangular holes in isotropic plate. The stress dis-
tribution around these holes is determined considering
singular points at the rounded corners and veried the
results by the method of Caustics. Ukadgaonker and
Awasare [1618] gave solutions for elliptical hole in
anisotropic plate and also for triangular, and rectangu-
lar holes in isotropic plate. Simha and Mohapatra [19]
studied the perturbation of mean boundary stress and its
root mean square value due to evolution of shape.
Many of the solutions cited for non-circular holes
involve tedious algebra and in many cases, the results
are given without detailed procedure. The series method
employed in dierent solutions is more involved. It is felt
that a solution based on simple mathematical approach
is needed to consider any shape of hole in multilayered
plates and several cases of inplane loading. Such a so-
lution will be useful to study the eect of hole geometry,
type of loading and laminate geometry on stress distri-
bution around the hole.
Adapting Savins [2] formulation for inplane loading
problems, a general solution is developed by introducing
a general form of mapping function and an arbitrary
biaxial loading condition into the boundary conditions.
By merely introducing the constants of the mapping
function, biaxial loading factor and orientation angle
into the computer program, results for required shape of
hole and loading condition are obtained. By selecting
appropriate values of the complex parameters of an-
isotropy for the laminate, dierent laminate geometry
are considered. This solution can be degenerated to the
isotropic case by taking the complex parameters
s
1
= 1:0005i; s
2
= 0:9995i and the corresponding
stresses can be obtained for all shapes of holes and
loading conditions.
2. Mapping function
In the theory of complex variables, conformal map-
ping facilitates representing the area external to a given
r
f
failure strength
r

x
, r

y
, s

xy
stresses applied at innity
r
q
, r
h
, s
qh
stresses in curvilinear
coordinates
r
h
/r normalized tangential stress
/ (z
1
), w (z
2
) stress functions for given plate
problem
/
1
(z
1
), w
1
(z
2
) stress functions of rst stage
solution in z
1
, z
2
planes
/
0
(z
1
), w
0
(z
2
) stress functions of second
stage solution
/
/
(z
1
); w
/
(z
2
) rst derivatives of the stress
functions
x
j
(f) mapping function in
anisotropic case in f-plane
x
1
(f), x
2
(f) mapping functions in f-plane
corresponding to z
1
, z
2
340 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
hole in z-plane by the area outside the unit circle in f-
plane by transformation using a mapping function. Such
a mapping function is given in a general form by
z = x(f) = R f
_

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
; (1)
where m
k
are the constants of the mapping function. The
computer program is developed to take a maximum
number of terms N equal to 19. This many number
terms in the mapping function will help in the conver-
gence studies. By introducing the constants m
k
for a
given shape of hole into the program, the results for the
corresponding hole can be obtained. R is a constant for
size of hole. In the present analysis, the hole size eect is
not considered and hence R is taken equal to unity and
the stress distribution is independent of the size of the
hole.
The mapping function in Eq. (1) corresponds to the
isotropic case and it is further modied to consider an-
isotropy. Taking f = qe
ih
where q, h are the coordinates
in f-plane and taking q = 1 on unit circle, we have:
f = ( cosh i sinh): (2)
Inserting Eq. (2) into Eq. (1), we get:
z = x(f) =R cosh
_ _

N
k=1
m
k
coskh
_
i sinh
_

N
k=1
m
k
sinkh
__
: (3)
By introducing the complex parameters of anisotropy s
j
into Eq. (3), by ane transformation, z becomes
z
j
= x
j
(f) = R cosh
_ _

N
k=1
m
k
coskh
_
s
j
sinh
_

N
k=1
m
k
sinkh
__
: (4)
Using the following identities into Eq. (4),
coskh =
1
2
f
k
_

1
f
k
_
; sinkh =
i
2
f
k
_

1
f
k
_
(5)
the mapping function takes the nal form as :
z
j
= x
j
(f)
=
R
2
a
j
1
f
_ _

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
b
j
f
_

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
__
; (6)
where
a
j
= (1 is
j
) b
j
= (1 is
j
) (j = 1; 2): (7)
The complex parameters s
1
, s
2
for anisotropy of the
plate are determined from Eq. (12) given in the follow-
ing section. The mapping function z
j
in Eq. (6) will be
introduced into the equations of boundary conditions
while determining the stress functions of a given plate
problem. The mapping function constants, m
k
for vari-
ous shapes of holes considered are given in Table 1.
Table 1
Mapping function constants for dierent shapes of holes
Type of hole Constants, m
k
1. Ellipse m
1
= (a b)=(a b) a; b : major; minor axes
2. Equilateral triangle m
2
= 1=3; m
5
= 1=45; m
8
= 1=162; m
11
= 7=2673; m
14
= 1=729; m
17
= 91=111537
3. Square
(a) Normal sides m
3
= 1=6; m
7
= 1=56; m
11
= 1=176; m
15
= 1=384; m
19
= 7=4864
(b) Rotated by 45 m
3
= 1=6; m
7
= 1=56; m
11
= 1=176; m
15
= 1=384; m
19
= 7=4864
4. Rectangle
(a) Side ratio: 10 m
1
= 0:789; m
3
= 0:0627; m
5
= 0:0297; m
7
= 0:014; m
9
= 0:000564; m
11
= 0:000937
(b) Side ratio: 6 m
1
= 0:6813; m
3
= 0:0893; m
5
= 0:0365; m
7
= 0:0126; m
9
= 0:001266; m
11
= 0:00296
(c) Side ratio: 5 m
1
= 0:643; m
3
= 0:098; m
5
= 0:038; m
7
= 0:011; m
9
= 0:00056; m
11
= 0:004
(d) Side ratio: 3.2 m
1
= 1=2; m
3
= 1=8; m
5
= 3=80; m
7
= 3=896; m
9
= 5=768; m
11
= 57=11264
5. Other holes
(a) Shape 1 (6.2832
a
) All constants are zero
(b) Shape 2 (6.7640) m
3
= 0:06; m
6
= 0:04; m
8
= 0:03; m
9
= 0:03
(c) Shape 3 (7.0870) m
2
= 0:2; m
3
= 0:1
(d) Shape 4 (7.3030) m
3
= 0:15; m
7
= 0:07
(e) Shape 5 (7.3794) m
2
= 0:2; m
5
= 0:1
(f) Shape 6 (7.7164) m
1
= 0:5
(g) Shape 7 (7.9018) m
1
= 0:5; m
2
= 0:1
(h) Shape 8 (8.1352) m
1
= 0:5; m
3
= 0:1
(i) Shape 9 (8.2134) m
2
= 0:1; m
4
= 0:15; m
5
= 0:02; m
6
= 0:05; m
7
= 0:05; m
8
= 0:02; m
9
= 0:05
a
Numbers in brackets indicate the order of perimeter (for r =1 unit, it is 6.2832 for circle).
V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354 341
3. Complex variable formulation
Considering a thin anistropic plate under generalized
plane stress and the resultant of the external forces act
on the mid-plane x0y. The generalized Hookes law in
terms of average stresses r
x
, r
y
, s
xy
and average strains
e
x
, e
y
, c
xy
is given by:
e
x
= a
11
r
x
a
12
r
y
a
16
s
xy
;
e
y
= a
12
r
x
a
22
r
y
a
26
s
xy
;
c
xy
= a
16
r
x
a
26
r
y
a
66
s
xy
:
(8)
Representing r
x
, r
y
, s
xy
in terms of Airys stress function
U(x,y),
r
x
=
o
2
U
oy
2
; r
y
=
o
2
U
ox
2
; s
xy
=
o
2
U
oxoy
(9)
and introducing Eq. (8) in terms of U(x,y) into the
compatibility equation,
o
2
e
x
oy
2

o
2
e
y
ox
2
=
o
2
c
xy
oxoy
; (10)
we get the following biharmonic equation:
a
22
o
4
U
ox
4
2a
26
o
4
U
ox
3
oy
(2a
12
a
66
)
o
4
U
ox
2
oy
2
2a
16
o
4
U
oxoy
3
a
11
o
4
U
oy
4
= 0: (11)
The general solution of Eq. (11) depends on the roots of
the characteristic equation
a
11
s
4
2a
16
s
3
(2a
12
a
66
)s
2
2a
26
s a
22
= 0 (12)
and
s
1
= a
1
ib
1
; s
2
= a
2
ib
2
;
s
3
= a
1
ib
1
; s
4
= a
2
ib
2
:
(13)
These complex parameters given by Eq. (13) depend on
the coecients a
ij
(i; j = 1; 2; 6) of the anisotropic plate.
These coecients for the unidirectional layers with ori-
ented bers and for multilayered plates can be deter-
mined using the equations given in Appendix A. The
complex parameters for dierent materials and ber
orientations and lay up are given in Table 2.
The Airys stress function U(x,y) in Eq. (9) can be
represented by
U(x; y) = F
1
(x s
1
y) F
2
(x s
2
y) F
3
(x s
3
y)
F
4
(x s
4
y) (14)
or
U(x; y) = F
1
(z
1
) F
2
(z
2
) F
1
(z
1
) F
2
(z
2
): (15)
Introducing the analytic functions /(z
1
), w(z
2
) and their
conjugates /(z
1
), w(z
2
) given by
Table 2
Complex parameters s
1
, s
2
for various cases of anisotropy under inplane loading
Fiber orientation angle a Graphite/epoxy Boron/epoxy CF/T300 Plywood Glass/epoxy
E
1
(GPa): 181.00 282.8 63.8 11.29 47.4
E
2
(GPa): 10.30 23.8 63.8 5.89 16.2
G
12
(GPa): 7.17 10.35 3.2 0.69 7
m
12
: 0.28 0.27 0.036 0.07 0.26
m
21
: 0.02 0.023 0.036 0.134 0.089
0 s
1
4.8939i 5.1325i 4.4514i 4.1020i 2.3962i
s
2
0.8566i 0.6717i 0.2246i 0.3449i 0.7139i
15 s
1
)2.2612 +1.9287i )2.3486 +1.9026i )2.0810 +1.9693i )1.9205 +1.9911i )0.8997 +1.8186i
s
2
0.0677 +0.8722i 0.1425 +0.6973i 0.2535 +0.2399i 0.2341 +0.3665i 0.1268 +0.7381i
30 s
1
)1.4750 +0.7263i )1.4959 +0.6997i )1.4284 +0.7804i )1.3826 +0.8276i )0.9395 +1.0964i
s
2
0.1235 +0.9177i 0.2755 +0.7785i 0.5391 +0.2946I 0.4893 +0.4423i 0.2420 +0.8137i
45 s
1
0.1536 +0.9814i 0.3782 +0.9257i )0.9039 +0.4277i 0.5007 +0.8656i )0.70340 +0.7108i
s
2
)0.9198 +0.3923i )0.9269 +0.3754i 0.9039 +0.4277i 0.6011 +0.7992i 0.3249 +0.9458i
60 s
1
0.1440 +1.0703i 0.4039 +1.1416i 1.4284 +0.7804i 1.1246 +1.0168i 0.3359 +1.1292i
s
2
)0.5456 +0.2687i )0.5485 +0.2565i )0.5391 +0.2946i )0.5325 +0.3187i )0.4506 +0.5259i
75 s
1
0.0886 +1.1397i 0.2812 +1.3766i 2.0810 +1.9693i 1.2375 +1.9379i 0.2260 +1.3160i
s
2
)0.2560 +0.2184i )0.2571 +0.2083i )0.2535 +0.2399i )0.2510 +0.2602i )0.2186 +0.4418i
90 s
1
1.1674i 1.4888i 4.4514i 2.8993i 1.4009i
s
2
0.2043i 0.1948i 0.2246i )0.2438i 0.4173i
(45)
s
s
1
)0.8597 +0.5109i )0.8891 +0.4578i )0.9005 +0.4350i )0.8534 +0.5213i )0.7966 +0.6046i
s
2
0.8597 +0.5109i 0.8891 +0.4578i 0.9005 +0.4350i 0.8534 +0.5213i 0.7966 +0.6046i
(0/90)
s
s
1
3.6404i 4.1266i 4.3694i 0.3555i 2.0143i
s
2
0.2747i 0.2423i 0.2289i 0.2813i 0.4964i
342 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
dF
1
dz
1
= /(z
1
);
dF
2
dz
2
= w(z
2
)
d

F
1
dz
1
= /(z
1
);
d

F
2
dz
2
= w(z
2
)
(16)
into Eq. (15) and then from Eq. (9), the stress compo-
nents in terms of /(z
1
), w(z
2
) are obtained as:
r
x
= 2Re s
2
1
/
/
(z
1
)
_
s
2
2
w
/
(z
2
)
_
;
r
y
= 2Re /
/
(z
1
)
_
w
/
(z
2
)
_
;
s
xy
= 2Re s
1
/
/
(z
1
)
_
s
2
w
/
(z
2
)
_
:
(17)
4. General solution for inplane loading with arbitrary
biaxial loading condition
The arbitrary biaxial loading condition will consider
arbitrary orientation of uniaxial tension, any ratio of
biaxial tension, and shear stress at innity. Other cases
of loading, viz., uniform tangential force and uniform
pressure around the hole are considered separately as
they can not be included in the arbitrary biaxial loading
condition.
4.1. Problem conguration
In order to consider several cases of inplane loading
in one single solution, the arbitrary biaxial loading
condition is introduced into the boundary conditions.
This condition has been adapted from Gaos [20] ellip-
tical hole solution for the isotropic case. By means of
this condition, solutions for biaxial tension or shear
stress at innity can be obtained without the need for
superposition of the solutions of uniaxial loading.
The remotely applied loading is considered about
arbitrary coordinate axes x
/
0y
/
rotated by an angle b
from the principal body directions x0y as shown in Fig.
1(a). The boundary conditions are:
r

x
/ = kr; r

y
/ = r; s

x
/
y
/ = 0 at z [ [ ; (18)
where r

x
/ ; r

y
/ are the stresses applied about x
/
, y
/
axes at
innity.
By transformation of axes, the boundary conditions
in Eq. (18) about x0y axes are given by:
r

x
/ r

y
/ = r

x
r

y
;
r

y
/ r

x
/ 2is

x
/
y
/ = r

y
_
r

x
2is

xy
_
e
2ib
:
(19)
From the relations in Eqs. (18) and (19) r

x
; r

y
; s

xy
about x0y axes are explicitly written as:
r

x
=
r
2
(k [ 1) (k 1) cos 2b[;
r

y
=
r
2
(k [ 1) (k 1) cos 2b[;
s

xy
=
r
2
(k [ 1) sin 2b[:
(20)
The boundary conditions in Eq. (20) are useful to de-
termine the stress functions for the hole free plate.
4.2. Applications of arbitrary biaxial loading condition
The following values of k and b will be taken in Eq.
(20) to obtain the required conditions of loading.
1. Inclined uniaxial tension at
innity:
k = 0; b ,= 0
(a) tension along x-axis: k = 0; b = p=2
(b) tension along y-axis: k = 0; b = 0
2. Hydrostatic tension at innity : k = 1; b ,= 0
(a) equibiaxial tension: k = 1; b = 0
3. Shear stress at innity: k = 1;
b = p=4
or 3p=4
Fig. 1. Problem conguration and scheme of solution: (a) Undisturbed state of stress. Positive loading on outer boundary. Boundary conditions
f
1
; f
2
on ctitious hole; (b) Disturbed state of stress. Negative loading on hole boundary: f
1
; f
2
; (c) State of stress concentration for a free inner
boundary and loading on outer boundary.
V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354 343
4.3. Determination of stress functions
4.3.1. Scheme of solution
The anisotropic plate containing the hole is subjected
to remotely applied tensions r

x
/ = kr; r

y
/ = r at the
outer edges as shown in Fig. 1(c). The edges of the hole
are free from loading. To determine the stresses around
the hole, the solution is split into two stages.
First stage solution. The stress functions /
1
(z
1
), w
1
(z
2
)
are obtained for a hole free plate due to applied stresses
r

x
/ ; r

y
/ as shown in Fig. 1(a). The boundary conditions
f
1
, f
2
on a ctitious hole are determined from these stress
functions.
Second stage solution. For the second stage solution,
the plate with hole is applied by a negative of the
boundary conditions f
1
, f
2
on its hole boundary in the
absence of remote loading as shown in Fig. 1(b). The
stress functions of the second stage solution /
0
(z
1
),
w
0
(z
2
) are determined from these boundary conditions.
In accordance with the novel method of Ukadgaon-
ker [13], the stress functions /(z
1
), w(z
2
) for the given
plate problem are obtained by superposition of the
stress functions of the rst and second stage solutions as
shown in Fig. 1(c). They are given by:
/(z
1
) = /
1
(z
1
) /
0
(z
1
);
w(z
2
) = w
1
(z
2
) w
0
(z
2
):
(21)
By introducing the above stress functions /(z
1
), w(z
2
)
into Eq. (17), the stresses r
x
; r
y
; s
xy
around the hole are
obtained.
4.3.2. Stress functions of rst stage solution
By taking /
/
1
(z
1
) = (B
+
iC
+
); w
/
1
(z
2
) = (B
/+
iC
/+
)
and upon integration, we get /
1
(z
1
), w
1
(z
2
). Taking
C
+
= 0 for uniqueness of solution, we have:
/
1
(z
1
) = B
+
z
1
;
w
1
(z
2
) = (B
/+
iC
/+
)z
2
:
(22)
4.3.3. Boundary conditions from rst stage solution
The boundary conditions on the ctitious hole are
given by:
f
1
= 2Re /
1
(z
1
) [ w
1
(z
2
)[;
f
2
= 2Re s
1
/
1
(z
1
) [ s
2
w
1
(z
2
)[:
(23)
Now considering the plate with hole and negative of the
boundary conditions without external loading as shown
in Fig. 1(b), the stress boundary conditions on the hole
are: f
0
1
= f
1
; f
0
2
= f
2
and they are given by:
f
0
1
= 2Re B
+
z
1
_
(B
/+
iC
/+
)z
2

;
f
0
2
= 2Re s
1
B
+
z
1
_
s
2
(B
/+
iC
/+
)z
2

:
(24)
The constants B
+
; B
/+
; C
/+
in Eqs. (22) and (24) are given
by:
B
+
=
r

x
(a
2
2
b
2
2
)r

y
2a
2
s

xy
2 (a
2
a
1
)
2
(b
2
2
b
2
1
)
_ _ ;
B
/+
=
(a
2
1
b
2
1
2a
1
a
2
)r

y
r

x
2a
2
s

xy
2 (a
2
a
1
)
2
(b
2
2
b
2
1
)
_ _ ; (25)
C
/+
= (a
1
a
2
)r

x
[a
2
(a
2
1
b
2
1
) a
1
(a
2
2
b
2
2
)[ r

y
[(a
2
1
b
2
1
) (a
2
2
b
2
2
)[s

xy
=2b
2
[(a
2
a
1
)
2
(b
2
2
b
2
1
)[:
Upon introducing the mapping function (6) into the
boundary conditions (24), we have:
f
0
1
= (K
1
_


K
2
)
1
f
_

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
(K
2


K
1
) f
_

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
__
;
f
0
2
= (K
3
_


K
4
)
1
f
_

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
(K
4


K
3
) f
_

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
__
;
(26)
where
K
1
=
R
2
B
+
a
1
_
(B
/+
iC
/+
)a
2

;
K
2
=
R
2
B
+
b
1
_
(B
/+
iC
/+
)b
2

;
K
3
=
R
2
s
1
B
+
a
1
_
s
2
(B
/+
iC
/+
)a
2

;
K
4
=
R
2
s
1
B
+
b
1
_
s
2
(B
/+
iC
/+
)b
2

:
(27)
4.3.4. Stress functions of second stage solution
As a result of the Schwarz formula (Eq. (38) of [2]),
the stress functions are obtained by the following
equations using the boundary conditions in Eq. (26):
/
0
(f) =
i
4p(s
1
s
2
)
_
c
s
2
f
0
1
_
f
0
2
_
t f
t f
dt
t
k
1
;
w
0
(f) =
i
4p(s
1
s
2
)
_
c
s
1
f
0
1
_
f
0
2
_
t f
t f
dt
t
k
2
:
(28)
c is the boundary of the unit circle in f-plane. k
1
, k
2
are
imaginary constants which will not aect the stresses
and may be dropped further. The following results are
used while evaluating the integrals in Eq. (28)
_
c
1
t
k

t f
t f

dt
t
=
4pi
f
k
;
_
c
t
k

t f
t f

dt
t
= 0: (29)
Finally, the stress functions of the second stage solution
/
0
(f), w
0
(f) of Eq. (28) are given by:
344 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
/
0
(f) =
a
3
f
_
b
3

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
;
w
0
(f) =
a
4
f
_
b
4

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
;
(30)
where
a
3
=
1
s
1
s
2
s
2
(K
1
_


K
2
) (K
3


K
4
)
_
;
b
3
=
1
s
1
s
2
s
2
(K
2
_


K
1
) (K
4


K
3
)
_
;
a
4
=
1
s
1
s
2
s
1
(K
1
_


K
2
) (K
3


K
4
)
_
;
b
4
=
1
s
1
s
2
s
1
(K
2
_


K
1
) (K
4


K
3
)
_
:
(31)
4.3.5. Final solution
Now considering the stress functions /(z
1
), w(z
2
) for
the given plate problem by superposition of stress
functions from Eqs. (22) and (30) as per Eq. (21) and
introducing them into Eq. (17), the stresses around the
hole are obtained from:
r
x
= r

x
2Re s
2
1
/
/
0
(z
1
)
_
s
2
2
w
/
0
(z
2
)
_
;
r
y
= r

y
2Re /
/
0
(z
1
)
_
w
/
0
(z
2
)
_
;
s
xy
= s

xy
2Re s
1
/
/
0
(z
1
)
_
s
2
w
/
0
(z
2
)
_
;
(32)
where
/
/
0
(z
1
) =
/
/
0
(f)
x
/
1
(f)
; w
/
0
(z
2
) =
w
/
0
(f)
x
/
2
(f)
;
x
/
1
(f) =
dz
1
df
; x
/
2
(f) =
dz
2
df
:
(33)
Conformal transformation is applied by means of the
transformation function z = x(f) = x(qe
ih
), Eq. (1) to
transform the Cartesian co-ordinates x0y to the or-
thogonal curvilinear co-ordinates q = const:; h = const.
The purpose of applying conformal transformation is to
ensure that for an innite area weakened by a hole of
any type, one of the coordinate lines, q=const. should
coincide with the contour of the hole.
The tangents to the curves q = const:; h = const.,
drawn through point C in the direction of increasing
values of q and h are denoted by (q) and (h). It can be
seen from Fig. 2 that the coordinate axes (q) and (h) are
rotated through an angle a relative to x0y.
Applying the above transformation, the stresses in
Cartesian coordinates given by Eq. (32) are transformed
into orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system (q, h)
using the following relations:
r
h
r
q
= r
y
r
x
;
r
h
r
q
2is
qh
= (r
y
r
x
2is
xy
)e
2ia
:
(34)
5. General solutions for other cases of loading
5.1. General solution for uniform tangential force on hole
boundary
The hole boundary is subjected to tangential force T,
and the resultant stress components on the hole
boundary are given by
X
n
= T cos(t; x) = T
dx
ds
;
Y
n
= T cos(t; y) = T
dy
ds
;
(35)
where t is the positive direction of the tangent to the hole
boundary. The resultant stress boundary conditions are
given by:
f
0
1
=
_
s
o
Y
n
ds C
1
= T y const:;
f
0
2
=
_
s
o
X
n
ds C
2
= T x const:
(36)
The constants in Eq. (36) can be dropped as they do not
aect the stresses and the x,y values are taken from the
real and imaginary parts of Eq. (1). They are given by:
x = R cos h
_

N
k=1
m
k
coskh
_
;
y = R sinh
_

N
k=1
m
k
sinkh
_
:
(37)
The boundary conditions f
0
1
; f
0
2
are obtained by intro-
ducing Eq. (37) into Eq. (36). The stress functions /
0
(f),
w
0
(f) are obtained from Eq. (28). They are given by:
/
0
(f) =
TR
2(s
1
s
2
)
a
2
f
_
b
2

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
;
w
0
(f) =
TR
2(s
1
s
2
)
a
1
f
_
b
1

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
:
(38)
Fig. 2. Transformation of coordinates.
V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354 345
By taking the derivatives of stress functions (38) using
Eq. (33), the stresses are evaluated using Eq. (32). r

x
,
r

y
, s

xy
in Eq. (32) are to be taken equal to zero since no
remote stresses are considered in this case.
5.2. General solution for uniform pressure around the hole
For the case of uniform pressure p around the hole,
the resultant stresses X
n
, Y
n
on the hole boundary are
given by
X
n
= pcos(n; x) = p
dy
ds
; Y
n
= p cos(n; y) = p
dx
ds
;
(39)
where n is the positive direction of the outward normal
to the hole boundary. The stress boundary conditions
are given by
f
0
1
=
_
s
o
Y
n
ds const: = px;
f
0
2
=
_
s
o
X
n
ds const: = py:
(40)
By using Eq. (37) into Eq. (40), the stress functions
/
0
(f), w
0
(f) are evaluated using Eq. (28). They are given
by:
/
0
(f) =
ipR
2(s
1
s
2
)
a
2
f
_
b
2

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
;
w
0
(f) =
ipR
2(s
1
s
2
)
a
1
f
_
b
1

N
k=1
m
k
f
k
_
:
(41)
By taking the derivatives of Eq. (41) using Eq. (33), the
stresses are evaluated from Eq. (32). The stresses r

x
,
r

y
, s

xy
are taken equal to zero in Eq. (32) since no re-
mote stresses are considered in this case also.
6. Failure strength
The available failure criteria will indicate any non-
linearity in the material response such as stressstrain
relation or the occurrence of a total fracture and do not
explain the mechanism of failure. In the present context,
failure strength indicates the maximum permissible re-
motely applied stress on a laminate containing hole. The
minimum value of the strengths calculated around the
hole will give the failure strength of the plate with a hole.
The failure strength of a lamina is determined using
dierent failure criteria.
The failure strengths for dierent laminae in the
laminate will be calculated and the minimum among
these values will be taken as the failure strength of the
laminate on First Ply Failure (FPF) basis. The failure
strength is calculated using the following equations
given for dierent failure criteria.
(a) According to HvM theory [5], the failure
strength r
f
is given by
r
2
f
= 1
r
h
r
_ _
2
_
sin
4
(h u)
X
2
_

cos
4
(h u)
Y
2

sin
2
(h u) cos
2
(h u)
S
2
K
+
sin
2
(h u) cos
2
(h u)
XY
_
; (42)
where
K
+
=
E
1
(1 m
21
) E
2
(1 m
12
)
2

E
1
E
2
(1 m
12
)(1 m
21
)
_ : (43)
(b) According to TsaiHill (TH) theory [21], the
failure strength r
f
is obtained by:
r
2
f
=
1
r
1
r
_ _
2
1
X
2

r
2
r
_ _
2
1
Y
2

s
6
r
_ _
2
1
S
2

r
1
r
2
r
2
_ _
1
X
2
; (44)
where r
1
, r
2
, s
6
are the transformed stress components
along bers from r
x
, r
y
, s
xy
in Eq. (32).
(c) According to Hashin (H) criterion [22] for tensile
failure mode of matrix, the failure strength r
f
of a uni-
directional layer is given by
r
2
f
=
1
r
2
r
_ _
2
1
X
2

s
6
r
_ _
2
1
S
2
: (45)
(d) TsaiWu (TW) failure criterion [23] is written in
the following form to determine the failure strength:
rf
1
r
1
r
_ _
rf
2
r
2
r
_ _
r
2
f
11
r
1
r
_ _
2
r
2
f
22
r
2
r
_ _
2
r
2
f
66
s
6
r
_ _
2
2r
2
f
12
r
1
r
2
r
2
_ _
=1; (46)
where (r
1
/r), (r
2
/r), (s
6
/r) are the normalised values of
stresses in principal ber directions calculated from the
normalized values of r
x
, r
y
, s
xy
and r is the applied
stress. By designating the value of r that causes failure
as r
f
and rewriting Eq. (46) as
ar
2
f
br
f
1 = 0; (47)
where
a = f
11
r
1
r
_ _
2
f
22
r
2
r
_ _
2
f
66
s
6
r
_ _
2
2f
12
r
1
r
2
r
2
_ _
;
b = f
1
r
1
r
_ _
f
2
r
2
r
_ _
;
(48)
f
11
=
1
XX
/
; f
22
=
1
YY
/
; f
66
=
1
S
2
f
1
=
1
X

1
X
/
; f
2
=
1
Y

1
Y
/
; f
12
0:5(f
11
f
22
)
1=2
(49)
346 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
In Eqs. (42)(49), the terms E
1
, E
2
, m
12
, m
21
, are the
Young's moduli and Poisson's ratios in principal ber
directions. X; X
/
are tensile, compressive strengths in
longitudinal direction and Y, Y
/
are tensile and com-
pressive strengths in transverse direction. S is the shear
strength.
7. Computer implementation of the solution
(a) Calculation of a
ij
(i; j = 1; 2; 6) in Eq. (8) from
equations given in Appendix A for single and multi-
layered plates.
(b) Choosing the constants of the mapping function
m
k
from Table 1 for required shape of hole.
(c) Calculation of complex parameters of anisotropy
s
1
, s
2
using Eq. (12). Table 2 gives the values of s
1
,
s
2
for some selected cases.
(d) Choosing the values of k and b from Section 4.2.
(e) Calculation of the constants: a
1
, b
1
, a
2
, b
2
, B
+
; B
/+
,
C
/+
, K
1
, K
2
, K
3
, K
4
, a
3
, b
3
, a
4
, b
4
using Eqs. (7), (25),
(27), (31).
(f) Evaluation of /
/
(z
1
), w
/
(z
2
) using Eq. (33).
(g) Calculation of stresses r
x
, r
y
, s
xy
and r
q
, r
h
, s
qh
us-
ing Eqs. (32) and (34), respectively.
(h) Calculation of failure strength r
f
using Eqs. (42)
(49).
8. Comparison of results
The present solution has exactly reproduced the re-
sults of the following cases in the available literature.
(i) Figures 75, 76, 82 of Lekhnitskii [1] for uniform
pressure, and tangential force around the hole and
equibiaxial tension, respectively for the circular hole
in a plywood plate.
(ii) All the results given by Greszczuk [5] for single
layered plate with dierent ber orientations and bi-
directional cross ply and angle ply laminates of Bo-
ron/epoxy containing a circular hole including the
locations of failure.
(iii) Results for circular and elliptical holes in 20 ply,
CFRP cross ply laminate for various angles of load-
ing given by Hayashi [7].
(iv) Results given by Jong [8] for circular, square and
rectangular holes in symmetric laminates of [0
4
/
45]
s
, [45]
s
and unidirectional layers subjected to
uniaxial, tensions in x,y directions and shear stresses.
(v) The results of Daoust and Hoa [12] for triangular
hole in Glass/epoxy and dierent other materials.
(vi) The values of r
h
around dierent irregular shapes
of holes considered by Simha and Mohapatra [19] in
isotropic plate subjected to uniaxial loading in x,y di-
rections, hydrostatic tension and shear stress at inn-
ity.
9. Results and discussion
Apart from dierent cases considered in Section 8 for
comparison of results, several new cases are studied by
the general solution. A computer program is developed
to generate the mapping function constants for any side
ratio of the rectangular hole. A rectangular hole of side
ratio 10, square holes (both normal and rotated by 45),
circular and elliptical holes and dierent irregular
shaped holes are considered for the new cases.
Simha and Mohapatra [19] studied the variation of
mean boundary stress around dierent irregular shaped
holes in isotropic case. They considered that such ir-
regular shaped holes will form due to the combined
action of loads and chemical attack. In the present case
of polymer composite plates, such holes will occur due
to mechanical damage and further evolve into other
shapes on account of viscoelasticity. The geometry of
these holes is chosen to have a xed area of opening with
increasing perimeter [19]. Increase in perimeter implies
decrease in strain energy on account of increased surface
energy. In order to study the variation of r
h
=r due to
evolution of shape, dierent shapes of holes shown in
Fig. 3 are considered. The results obtained for all the
cases considered are discussed in the following:
9.1. Elliptical hole
Table 3 is a typical output from the general solution
giving the normalized values of stresses and values of
failure strength r
f
around an elliptical hole of axes ratio
2 in a Graphite/epoxy lamina with 60 bers under
equibiaxial tension. The values given in each row of the
table corresponding to a particular angular position (h)
Fig. 3. Some of the selected shapes of holes.
V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354 347
on the hole boundary will repeat exactly for the diago-
nally opposite angular positions such as: 60240, 80
260, 165345, etc. The maximum value of r
h
=r is 6.3
at 165 and 345. Failure strengths are calculated by H
vM theory [5], TH theory [21], H criterion (H) [22] and
TW theory [23]. The minimum value of r
f
by each
criterion is taken for the allowable applied stress, be-
yond which failure will occur in terms of rupture of -
bers or cracking of matrix or non-linearity in the stress
strain relation, etc.
The values of r
f
obtained by TH theory and H
criterion are exactly same whereas the values by H
vM theory closely match with these values between
095 and 180275 and dier for the remaining part
of the hole. Higher values of r
f
are obtained by Tsai
Wu theory and the location of minimum value of r
f
coincides with that of the maximum value of r
h
=r.
For the remaining theories, the critical locations where
r
f
is minimum are dierent from that of maximum
r
h
=r. This location is slightly dierent for HvM
theory which is at 50 compared to those of TsaiHill
theory and H criterion which occurs between 25 and
30. The location of failure at points other than
maximum r
h
=r occur due to the fact that in aniso-
tropic materials, failure will occur not because of one
component of stress being maximum but due to in-
teraction of all the stress components. A similar fea-
ture is observed in the results of Greszczuk [5] for a
circular hole.
While calculating the values of r
f
by dierent failure
criteria using Eqs. (42)(49), T300/5208 Graphite/epoxy
lamina having bers at 60 is considered with the fol-
lowing material values in principal directions [23].
E
1
= 181 GPa; E
2
= 10:3 GPa; m
12
= 0:28;
m
21
= 0:02;
Table 3
Normalized stresses and values of r
f
by dierent failure criteria for equibiaxial tension on a graphite/epoxy plate, 60 bres containing an elliptical
hole (a=b = 2)
h (deg.) Normalized values of Failure strength r
f
(MPa)
r
x
r
y
s
xy
r
q
r
h
s
qh
HvM TH H TW
0 0 3.44 0 0 3.44 0 33.9 32.6 32.6 16.7
5 0.09 2.85 0.5 0.02 2.92 )0.25 32.9 27 27 22
10 0.29 2.37 0.83 0.07 2.59 )0.43 31.4 23.3 23.3 27.5
15 0.55 1.93 )1.04 0.13 2.36 )0.55 29.8 20.9 20.9 32.9
20 0.82 1.54 )1.12 0.18 2.18 )0.63 28.5 19.6 19.6 37.8
25 1.05 1.2 )1.12 0.22 2.04 )0.66 27.4 19.1 19.1 42
30 1.23 0.92 )1.07 0.23 1.92 )0.67 26.4 19.1 19.1 45.4
35 1.37 0.7 )0.98 0.23 1.83 )0.65 25.7 19.5 19.5 48.3
40 1.46 0.52 )0.87 0.21 1.76 )0.61 25.2 20.2 20.2 50.8
45 1.52 0.38 )0.76 0.19 1.7 )0.57 24.9 21.2 21.2 52.9
50 1.54 0.27 )0.65 0.16 1.66 )0.51 24.8 22.3 22.3 54.7
55 1.55 0.19 )0.54 0.13 1.61 )0.45 25 23.6 23.6 56.3
60 1.54 0.13 )0.45 0.1 1.57 )0.39 25.4 25.1 25.1 57.7
65 1.52 0.08 )0.35 0.07 1.54 )0.32 26.2 26.8 26.8 59
70 1.49 0.05 )0.27 0.04 1.5 )0.26 27.4 28.7 28.7 60.2
75 1.45 0.03 )0.19 0.02 1.45 )0.19 29.2 30.8 30.8 61.3
80 1.41 0.01 )0.12 0.01 1.41 )0.12 31.6 33.1 33.1 62.3
85 1.36 0 )0.06 0 1.36 )0.06 34.8 35.7 35.7 63.2
90 1.3 0 0 0 1.3 0 39.1 38.8 38.7 64.2
95 1.24 0 0.05 0 1.24 0.05 44.8 42.2 42.2 65.1
100 1.18 0.01 0.1 0.01 1.18 0.1 52.5 46.3 46.3 66.1
105 1.11 0.02 0.15 0.02 1.12 0.14 63.1 51.2 51.2 67.1
110 1.04 0.03 0.19 0.03 1.05 0.18 77.7 57.2 57.2 68.2
115 0.97 0.05 0.23 0.04 0.98 0.21 98.5 64.5 64.5 69.5
120 0.89 0.07 0.26 0.06 0.91 0.22 128.8 73.9 73.9 70.8
125 0.8 0.1 0.28 0.07 0.84 0.24 174.3 86 86 72.4
130 0.72 0.13 0.3 0.07 0.77 0.24 245.8 102.1 102.1 73.9
135 0.64 0.16 0.32 0.08 0.72 0.24 364.8 123.4 123.5 75
140 0.57 0.2 0.34 0.08 0.68 0.24 581.9 150.9 151.1 74.6
145 0.52 0.27 0.37 0.09 0.7 0.25 1052.6 181.2 181.6 69.5
150 0.54 0.41 0.47 0.1 0.85 0.29 1770.3 198.5 199.6 55.1
155 0.73 0.84 0.78 0.15 1.41 0.46 519.6 181.8 184.7 32.2
160 1.23 2.32 1.69 0.27 3.27 0.94 121.4 166.2 180.1 13.9
165 1.48 5.16 2.77 0.35 6.3 1.48 41.5 185.3 323.2 7.4
170 0.67 5.37 1.89 0.16 5.87 0.98 32.3 58 59.5 8.3
175 0.13 4.26 0.74 0.03 4.36 0.38 33.5 40.6 40.8 12
180 0 3.44 0 0 3.44 0 33.9 32.6 32.6 16.7
348 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
X = 500 MPa; X
/
= 1500 MPa; Y = 40 MPa;
Y
/
= 246 MPa; S = 68 MPa:
9.2. Rectangular hole
The distribution of r
h
=r around a rectangular hole of
side ratio 10 in [0/90]
s
and [45]
s
Graphite/epoxy lami-
nates subjected to inplane shear stress at innity are
shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. The maximum
value of r
h
=r is 8:95 at 15, 165, 195, 345, for cross
ply laminate (Fig. 4) and 7:84 at 20, 160, 200, 340
for angle ply laminate (Fig. 5). Due to applied shear
stress, half the longer edge is under tension and re-
maining half is in compression. Same kind of stresses
exist on the diagonally opposite halves. In case of cross
ply laminate, low value of stresses exist on the shorter
edges while on the corresponding edges in case of angle
ply laminate negligible stresses are present. The points of
maximum r
h
=r in both the laminates are shifted away
from the corners and such a shift is noticed when the
aspect ratio is greater than 1. No signicant dierence is
noticed in the stress distributions for cross ply and angle
ply laminates in the present case.
The mapping function for the rectangular holes
considered in Figs. 4 and 5 is taken with 7 terms. The
normalized corner radius (r
c
/b) is 0.2934, where r
c
is the
corner radius and b is the width of smaller side of
rectangle. By taking 6 terms, the value of (r
c
/b) is 0.3574
and the maximum value of r
h
/r is 8:69 for cross ply
laminate and 9:24 for angle ply laminate. The stresses
are slightly altered at all other points also. It is to be
noted that due to increase in corner radius with 6 terms
mapping function, the stresses have increased in case of
angle ply laminate and decreased in case of cross ply
laminate.
9.3. Square hole
The square hole with normal sides as well as sides
rotated by 45 is considered in the study. In both the
cases, the stresses are obtained by taking the mapping
function with 4, 5 and 6 terms. Convergence of the re-
sults is observed with 5 terms itself. The normalized
corner radius (r
c
/a) for mapping function with 6 terms is
0.00692, and with 5 terms, it is: 0.00948 and with 4
terms, it is: 0.0142, where r
c
is the corner radius and a is
the side of the square.
The distribution of r
h
=r around the square hole with
normal sides in [0/90]
s
Graphite/epoxy laminate due to
shear stress and equibiaxial tension are shown in Figs. 6
and 7, respectively. The maximum value of r
h
=r is at the
corners in both the cases. They are equal to 8.45 (Fig.
6) and 6.45 (Fig. 7). As shown in Fig. 6, the edges
around the corners are signicantly stressed whereas due
to equibiaxial tension, shown in Fig. 7, the stresses are
higher only at the corners and on the middle of the sides,
they are low.
Table 4 gives the values of r
h
=r around a square hole
rotated by 45) in [0/90]
s
and [45[
s
Graphite/epoxy
laminates for uniaxial tension at dierent angles. For
cross ply laminate, the values of r
h
=r have symmetry
Fig. 4. Stress distribution around a rectangular hole (side ratio 10) in
cross ply laminate due to shear stress.
Fig. 5. Stress distribution around a rectangular hole (side ratio 10) in
angle ply laminate due to shear stress.
Fig. 6. Stress distribution around a square hole in cross ply laminate
due to shear stress.
V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354 349
about x, y-axes for loading along 0 and 90. However
the values for loading along 30, 45, 60 have symmetry
about x-axis only. For loading at an angle of 45 all the
four corners are equally stressed to a maximum r
h
=r of
12.36 whereas for loading at other angles, only two of
the corners are stressed to relatively very high value of
r
h
=r say, 25.72 and 19.04.
In case of rotated square hole in angle ply laminate,
symmetry in the stress distribution is noticed for loading
angles of 0 and 90. The maximum r
h
=r is equal to 7.45
which is much lower compared to that in case of cross
ply laminate. For loading at 30, 45, 60, the maximum
r
h
=r values have shifted from the corners by 5 which
was not the case for cross ply laminate. The maximum
value of r
h
=r is lower for these angles of loading com-
pared to that of cross ply laminate.
These results indicate that a reduction in the maxi-
mum value of r
h
/r for dierent angles of loading can be
obtained by proper orientation of the hole relative to
ber direction.
9.4. Shapes of holes in Fig. 3
Dierent shapes of holes given in Fig. 3 have a xed
area of opening with an increased order of perimeter.
The values of perimeter are given in brackets below each
shape of hole in Fig. 3. The stress distribution around
these holes is obtained for [0/90]
s
, [45]
s
laminates of
Graphite/epoxy for equibiaxial tension. Results ob-
tained for these holes are discussed here.
9.4.1. Shape 1
The distribution of r
h
=r due to equibiaxial tension on
[0/90]
s
Graphite/epoxy laminate is shown in Fig. 8. The
maximum value of r
h
=r is 3.92 and the minimum value
is 1.02. This distribution is similar to that given in Fig.
82 of Ref. [1] for circular hole in plywood plate under
equibiaxial tension where the maximum and minimum
values of r
h
=r are 4.04 and 1.09, respectively. The cir-
Table 4
Values of r
h
/r around a square hole (rotated by 45) in a [0/90]
s
and [45]
s
laminates of graphite/epoxy for uniaxial tension at dierent angles
h (deg.) [0/90]
s
Cross ply [45]
s
Angle ply
Angle of loading w.r.t. x-axis (ccw) Angle of loading w.r.t. x-axis (ccw)
0 30 45 60 90 0 30 45 60 90
0 )1 5.68 12.36 19.04 25.72 )1 1.11 3.23 5.34 7.45
5 )0.16 1.18 1.69 1.89 1.25 )0.55 3.15 4.84 5.79 4.73
10 )0.14 0.9 1.24 1.33 0.71 )0.36 1.94 2.9 3.36 2.49
20 )0.06 1.05 1.36 1.37 0.59 )0.32 1.9 2.81 3.24 2.35
30 0.03 1.12 1.37 1.3 0.4 0.2 2.05 2.6 2.68 1.46
40 0.15 1.23 1.42 1.29 0.28 0.5 2.23 2.63 2.54 1.14
50 0.28 1.29 1.42 1.23 0.15 1.13 2.54 2.63 2.23 0.5
60 0.4 1.3 1.37 1.12 0.03 1.46 2.68 2.6 2.05 0.2
70 0.59 1.37 1.36 1.05 )0.06 2.35 3.24 2.81 1.9 )0.32
80 0.71 1.33 1.24 0.9 )0.14 2.49 3.36 2.9 1.94 )0.36
85 1.25 1.89 1.69 1.18 )0.16 4.73 5.79 4.84 3.15 )0.55
90 25.72 19.04 12.36 5.68 )1 7.45 5.34 3.23 1.11 )1
95 1.04 )0.18 )0.62 )0.77 )0.15 4.73 1.03 )0.66 )1.61 )0.55
100 0.71 )0.33 )0.67 )0.76 )0.14 2.49 0.19 )0.77 )1.23 )0.36
110 0.59 )0.52 )0.82 )0.84 )0.06 2.35 0.13 )0.78 )1.21 )0.32
120 0.4 )0.69 )0.93 )0.87 0.03 1.46 )0.39 )0.94 )1.02 0.2
130 0.28 )0.8 )0.99 )0.86 0.5 1.13 )0.59 )0.99 )0.9 0.5
140 0.15 )0.86 )0.99 )0.8 0.28 0.15 )0.9 )0.99 )0.59 1.14
150 0.03 )0.87 )0.93 )0.69 0.4 0.2 )1.02 )0.94 )0.39 1.46
160 )0.06 )0.84 )0.82 )0.52 0.59 )0.32 )1.21 )0.78 0.13 2.35
170 )0.14 )0.76 )0.67 )0.33 0.71 )0.36 )1.23 )0.77 0.19 2.49
180 )1 5.68 12.36 19.04 25.72 )1 1.11 3.23 5.34 7.45
Fig. 7. Stress distribution around a square hole in cross ply laminate
due to equibiaxial tension.
350 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
cular hole is also considered in [45[
s
angle ply laminate
for which the maximum value of r
h
=r is equal to 3.91 at
45, 135, 225, 315, and minimum value is equal to
1.02 at 90, 180, 270. In this case, the distribution is
rotated by 45 as an eect of change in laminate ge-
ometry.
9.4.2. Shape 2
Due to the presence of cusp at 0 position on the hole
boundary of shape 2, r
h
=r at this point is 107.9 in case
of [0/90]
s
crossply laminate. Next higher value is equal to
7.2 at 105, 265: Similarly, r
h
=r at 80 and 280 is equal
to 5.3. For [45]
s
angle ply laminates with this hole
under the same equibiaxial tension, the maximum value
of r
h
=r is only 28.7 at 0. r
h
/r is equal to 6.97 at 40,
320 and 6.83 at 110, 250. The value of r
h
=r at 0 has
drastically reduced in case of angle ply laminate. Next
peak values have occurred at locations which are dif-
ferent from those for the cross ply laminate.
9.4.3. Shape 3
Fig. 9 shows the distribution of r
h
=r around hole of
shape 3 in [0/90]
s
cross ply laminate under equibiaxial
tension. The maximum value of r
h
=r is equal to 6.9 at
60, 300 and at 180, r
h
=r is equal to 4.8. The point of
maximum r
h
=r is slightly shifted from the corner as can
be seen in the gure. Such a shift depends on the normal
component of stress on that part of hole boundary and
the aspect ratio of the hole. For the same hole consid-
ered in [45]
s
angle ply laminate, the maximum value of
r
h
=r is 11.27 at 50, 310, and the other values of r
h
=r
are: 5.92 at 55, 305, 4.44 at 150, 210. The maximum
value of r
h
/r is higher in case of angle ply laminate.
9.4.4. Shape 4
The distribution of r
h
=r around hole of shape 4 in
cross ply laminate for equibiaxial tension is shown in
Fig. 10. The maximum value of r
h
=r is equal to 5.7 at
25, 65, 115, 155, 205, 245, 295 and 335, i.e., near
the corners. In case of [45[
s
angle ply laminate, the
maximum r
h
=r is equal to 7.60 at 30, 60, 120, 150,
210, 240, 300, 330 and 5.22 at 35, 55 , 125, 145,
305, 325. r
h
=r at 40, 50 , 130, 140, 310, 320 is
equal to 3.7. The maximum r
h
=r is slightly higher in
case of angle ply laminate.
9.4.5. Shape 5
The distribution of r
h
=r around hole of shape 5 in [0/
90]
s
Graphite/epoxy laminate due to equibiaxial tension
is shown in Fig. 11. The peak values of r
h
=r are 5.3 at
35, 325 and 7.5 at 85, 275 and 6.9 at 160, 200. In
case of [45]
s
angle ply laminate with this hole, the
maximum value of r
h
=r is 10.25 at 155, 205. Next
higher value is 9.24 at 40, 320. Only a small rise in the
values of r
h
=r is noticed in case of angle ply laminate.
Fig. 9. Stress distribution around hole of Shape 3 in cross ply laminate
due to equibiaxial tension.
Fig. 10. Stress distribution around hole of Shape 4 in cross ply lami-
nate due to equibiaxial tension.
Fig. 8. Stress distribution around a circular hole (Shape 1) in cross ply
laminate due to equibiaxial tension.
V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354 351
9.4.6. Shape 6
In case of shape 6 (elliptical hole of axes ratio 3) in
cross ply laminate, the highest value of r
h
=r is equal to
11.7 at 0 and 180 whereas for angle ply laminate, these
values are equal to 5.66 at 15, 165, 195, 345. Lower
values of r
h
=r are noticed in case of angle ply laminate.
9.4.7. Shape 7
In case of cross ply laminate with hole of shape 7 the
maximum value of r
h
=r is equal to 22.2 at 0 and 180
whereas for angle ply laminate, the peak values of r
h
=r
are 7.82 at 5, 355 and 6.24 at 10, 350 and 5.21 at
155, 205. Similar to the case in shape 6, lower values of
r
h
=r are obtained for angle ply laminate with hole of
shape 7.
9.4.8. Shape 8
Due to the presence of sharp corners at 0, 180, the
maximum value of r
h
=r is equal to 35.2 at these points.
r
h
=r at 90 and 270 is equal to 2.6 and on the remaining
part of the hole boundary, the values of r
h
=r are con-
siderably less. In case of angle ply laminate, the values of
r
h
=r are 9.2 at 0, 180, and 9.64 at 5, 175, 185, 355.
Reduced values of r
h
=r prevailed uniformly all around
the hole in this case in contrast to the high peak values
only at the ends with low value at the middle region as in
the case of cross ply laminate.
9.4.9. Shape 9
The maximum value of r
h
=r in case of cross ply
laminate with hole of shape 9 is equal to 22.1 at 170,
190
o
and 3.1 at 30, 330. In case of angle ply laminate,
the corresponding values are 7.43 at 30, 330 and 6.64
at 170, 190. In this case also, low values of r
h
=r are
present uniformly all around the hole boundary com-
pared to very high values at one or two points in case of
cross-ply laminate.
9.5. Circular hole with tangential force on hole boundary
The stress distribution around a circular hole in a [0/
90]
s
Graphite/epoxy laminate due to uniform tangential
force on hole boundary is shown in Fig. 12. The maxi-
mum of value of r
h
=r is 1.4. This distribution has the
same pattern as given in Fig. 76 [1] for a circular hole in
plywood plate for which maximum value of r
h
=r
is 1:5. The stresses are alternately tensile and com-
pressive on the hole boundary with zero values at 0,
45, 90 etc.
9.6. Elliptical hole with uniform pressure on hole boundary
The stress distribution around an elliptical hole in [0/
90]
s
of Graphite/epoxy due to uniform pressure on the
hole is shown in Fig. 13. The maximum value of r
h
=r is
6.8, at 0 and 180 and it is equal to 1.0 at 90 and 270.
Fig. 12. Stress distribution around a circular hole in cross ply laminate
due to tangential force on hole boundary.
Fig. 13. Stress distribution around an elliptical hole in cross ply
laminate due to uniform pressure on hole boundary.
Fig. 11. Stress distribution around hole of Shape 5 in cross ply lami-
nate due to equibiaxial tension.
352 V.G. Ukadgaonker, D.K.N. Rao / Composite Structures 49 (2000) 339354
10. Conclusion
The general solution presented in this paper is ex-
tremely useful to study the eect of various parameters,
viz., the hole geometry, type of loading and laminate
geometry on stress distribution. The failure strength is
also calculated using dierent failure theories to get the
allowable applied stress. Some of the theories gave
consistent values. Very little dierence is noticed in the
stress distribution for rectangular hole in cross ply and
angle ply laminates under shear loading. In many cases,
the points of maximum r
h
=r is shifted away from the
corners and this shift depends on the aspect ratio of the
hole and type of loading. In case of a rotated square
hole in angle ply laminate, a low values of r
h
=r are
obtained compared to the values for the cross ply lam-
inate. In case of irregular shaped holes for shapes 35
the maximum values of r
h
=r are slightly more for angle
ply laminate and for other shapes of holes, the values of
r
h
=r are drastically low compared to those for cross ply
laminate. It can be concluded that the stress distribution
around a given shape of hole depends on the combined
eect of hole shape, type of loading and laminate ge-
ometry.
Appendix A
Determination of coecients a
ij
(i; j = 1; 2; 6) in Eq.
(8) for unidirectional layers and multilayered plates.
E
1
, E
2
, G
12
, m
12
, m
21
are the Youngs moduli, shear
modulus and Poissons ratios of the lamina in ber di-
rections.
(a) Unidirectional layers with oriented bers. The co-
ecients a
ij
(i; j = 1; 2; 6) for this case can be calculated
using Eqs. (2.58) and (2.83) of Ref. [24]. S
ij
in Eq. (2.83)
[24] will be taken for a
ij
in Eq. (8) of this paper.
(b) Multilayered anisotropic plates. The transformed
stiness coecient Q
ij
for individual layers with oriented
bers are calculated using Eqs. (2.58), (2.60) and (2.80)
of Ref. [24]. The eective stiness coecients

b
ij
for
multilayered plate are given by [6]:

b
ij
=
1
h

n
k=1
(

Q
ij
)
(k)
t
k
; (A:1)
where h is the total thickness of n layers of a mid-plane
symmetric laminate. t
k
is the thickness of kth layer. The
eective compliance coecients a
ij
are given by:
a
11
=
(

b
22

b
66


b
2
26
)
B
; a
12
=
(

b
16

b
26


b
12

b
66
)
B
;
a
16
=
(

b
12

b
26


b
16

b
22
)
B
; a
22
=
(

b
11

b
66


b
2
16
)
B
;
a
26
=
(

b
12

b
16


b
11

b
26
)
B
; a
66
=
(

b
11

b
22


b
2
12
)
B
;
B = (

b
11

b
22

b
66


b
11

b
2
26
2

b
12

b
26

b
16


b
66

b
2
12


b
22

b
2
16
)
(A:2)
a
ij
in Eq. (A.2) will be taken for a
ij
in Eq. (8) of this
paper for multilayered plates.
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