Effect of Poisson’s Ratio on the Elastic Strain Concentration Factor of Notched Bars under Static Tension and under Pure Bending

As a contribution to the field of strain concentration studies, the coupled influences of Poisson s ratio and the geometric configuration upon the strain concentration factor, defined under triaxial stress state, of notched bars with U-notch, are investigated using the finite element method. Circumferentially U-notched cylindrical bars under tension and rectangular bars with a single edge U-notch under bending with different notch depths are employed here. The results clearly show that the Poisson s ratio has a significant effect on the strain concentration factor, especially for deep and intermediate notch depths. For shallow notches, the elastic strain concentration factor nearly independent of Poisson s ratio. However, for any notch depth the effect of Poisson s ratio becomes prominent with decreasing notch radius. Finally, by fitting the results of FEM analysis, a set of convenient formulas of the elastic strain concentration factor as a function of Poisson s ratio are introduced. These formulas will be useful for any notch depth and radius under the same type of loading employed in the present study.