Contact Stress Analysis Around Elliptic Pin-Loaded Holes in Orthotropic Plates

This analysis utilizes the complex stress function approach to obtain the stress distribution in pin loaded composite joints with elliptic openings. The stress functions were derived from assumed displacement expressions that satisfy the boundary conditions around the hole. In the method of solution Coulomb friction was used to determine the prescribed displacements at the boundary. The material properties of graphite/epoxy and carbon fiber reinforced plastics laminates were used in this investigation and the results also compared with available data for joints with circular openings. It was revealed that the stress distributions followed the same pattern in both geometries but with lower magnitude in elliptical shape and the reduction in stress distributions caused by changing the pin/hole shape from circular to elliptic depend on friction.