Stress concentration reduction at a reinforced hole loaded by a bonded circular inclusion

This paper considers analytically the stress concentration in an infinite plane loaded by a circular inclusion, which is bonded to a reinforced hole in the plane. The pulling force of the inclusion is modeled by distributed body force. The infinite plane, the reinforced ring, and the circular inclusion can be of different elastic properties. Airy stress function with body force potential was used to solve the problem analytically. Numerical results show that the maximum tensile hoop stress at the hole boundary in the plane can be reduced to becoming negligible if an optimum stiffness ratio between the plane and the rivet is chosen (normally a harder material for the reinforced ring comparing to the plane is needed). An optimum thickness of the reinforced ring can also be determined to further reduce the hoop stress concentration. Therefore, the results of the present study provide a new theoretical basis for designing a reinforced rivet hole.