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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
The presence of cut-outs in shell structures causes perturbations in the original stress system, so that in the region of the cut-out the local stress level in the sheet may be increased many times. These stress concentrations can be considerably reduced, and in some cases entirely eliminated by the use of a suitably chosen shape of cut-out, and by the use of a suitable reinforcing member around the edge.
The factors which influence the magnitude of these stress concentrations are the shape of the cut-out and the dimensions of the reinforcement. The geometry of the shell itself is generally of only secondary importance, provided that the size of the cut-out is small compared with the radius of curvature of the shell.