STRESS CONCENTRATION REDUCTION FOR DRILLED CRACK-ARREST HOLES USING PATCH PLATES WITH HIGH-STRENGTH BOLTS UNDER AXIAL AND SHEAR LOADS

Abstract

To investigate the reduction of stress in drilled crack-arrest holes by applying patch plates with high-strength bolts under combined axial and shear loading, static loading tests with a plate girder and parametric finite element analyses were conducted. The stress concentration factor for drilled holes was found to be influenced by the combined action of stresses, and the effectiveness of the patch plate diminished as the ratio of the shear stress increased. This study proposed a method to accurately estimate the effect of combined stress actions on reducing stress concentration in drilled holes with patch plates.