Stress analysis of axially loaded perforated steel plates by experimental and finite element methods

Abstract

In this project thin steel plates containing elliptical holes were subjected to uniaxial tension and the strains produced at various locations around the plates measured using strain gauges. The loading applied was great enough for a significant amount of plastic deformation to occur across the plate section. The mechanical properties of the steel were determined by conducting a series of tensile tests on standard 'dogbone' samples. Plane stress, finite element models were created using the student editions of both ANSYS v5.5 and ABAQUS V6.4. Comparisons between the experimental and model results of the strains in the plates were made.