Effects of hole stress concentration and its mitigation on the tensile strength of sheet moulding compound (SMC-R50) composites

Abstract The hole stress concentration effects on the tensile strength of SMC-R50 sheet moulding compound composites were studied with consideration being given to both centric and eccentric hole locations. It is shown that the tensile strength of the R50 material is improved by applying a transverse normal pressure around the hole boundary. A few preliminary experiments indicate that the fatigue life of the R50 material can also be improved by a similar technique of applying a transverse normal pressure around an open hole.