Stress concentration factors of a general triaxial ellipsoidal cavity

The equivalent inclusion method is applied to solve the stress concentration problem concerning the disturbing effect of a general triaxial ellipsoidal cavity on an otherwise uniform normal stress state. Several useful solutions in simple form for limiting cases are derived and numerical results for general cases are obtained. These findings show the general features of the stress concentration factors around the base equator of the cavity. It is found that (1) when Poisson's ratio of the material is zero, the stress concentration factor does not vary along the equator of the cavity; (2) When the aspect ratio c/b of the cavity is very small, the stress concentration factor is also constant along the equator; (3) In general, the variation of stress concentration factors around the equator is less than 0.17 regardless of Poisson's ratio of the material. Thus, it is concluded that the stress concentration factor may be treated as constant around the equator of an ellipsoidal cavity with only a slight error.