Journal of
Applied
Mechanics
Stresses and Displacements on the Boundaries of
Circular Rings Diametrically Loaded
A. J. Durelli' 2 and Y. H. Lin2
The paper deals with stresses and displacements in circular
rings of rectangular cross-section, loaded in the plane and
perpendicular to the boundary. Values are given for all points
at the inside and outside boundaries, are presented
parametrically for rings for which the ratio of diameters
ID/OD varies from 0 to very close to 1, and have been ob-
tained from several sources, mainly Nelson's equations.
References to some previous contributions are included. The
information presented in the paper was not available in a
complete manner and will be useful in numerous structural
applications. The analysis corresponding to loads applied
tangentially to the boundary could be approached in a similar
Introduction
The circular ring of rectangular cross-section with a con-
centric hole is probably the most commonly treated geometry
in the stress analysis literature, and the most commonly
considered loading condition of that geometry is the pair of
loads diametrically applied to the outside boundary. Ap-
plications are numerous because this type of ring is the
transverse cross-section of tubes widely used in many kinds of
construction. Many contibutions to the solution of this
problem can be found in the literature. Several of these are
referred to in treatises like the ones by Timoshenko [1], Roark
[2], and Peterson [3], and they include some basic theoretical
work like Filon's [4] as well as experimental results [5].
Among other important contributions the work of Billevicz
[6], Horger [7], Bell [8], and Ripperger and David [9] may be
mentioned. Probably the most thorough treatment of the
subject has been conducted by Nelson [10] in his thesis. Some
of the other contributions, by one of the authors, to this
subject can be found in [11].
For many applications, in particular the use of rings as
dynamometers, the necessary information from the many
'Fellow ASME.
2
University of Maryland, College Park, Md. 20742.
Contributed by the Applied Mechanics Division for publication in the
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS.
Discussion on this paper should be addressed to the Editorial Department,
ASME, United Engineering Center, 345 East 47th Street, New York, N.Y.
10017, and will be accepted until two months after final publication of the paper
itself in the JOURNAL OF APPLIED MECHANICS. Manuscript received by ASME
Applied Mechanics Division, July, 1984; final revision, April, 1985.
Journal of Applied Mechanics
Copyright © 1986 by ASME
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papers mentioned is limited to the maximum and minimum
stress on the inside boundary of the ring when the ring is
loaded by a pair of opposite forces. There are other ap-
plications, however, like the use of rings as dynamometers for
the simultaneous measurements of several pairs of opposite
loads, which require the knowledge of stresses at all points of
the inside boundary, and the possession of this knowledge
parametrically for many ratios ID/OD of the inside to the
outside boundary.
The authors are proposing in another publication the use of
coefficients of influence to evaluate the multiple loads applied
to the rings. The object of this note is to present
parametrically in a manner that permits a direct use of the
data the values of stresses and displacements on the inside and
outside boundaries for ratios ID/OD from 0 to 0.92.
The results presented are drawn from both theoretical and
experimental contributions. Advantage has been gained by
the cross plotting of curves to increase precision. Advantage
has also been gained by the use of the two limiting cases, the
small circular hole in an infinite plate (Kirsch solution) and
the curved beam formulae for the very thin ring. Both give
highly accurate results. It is believed that this is the first time
parametrical information has been presented covering
practically the whole field. The scope of the paper is limited
however to the elastic behavior of materials, and small
deformations of the rings. Considerable information for the
case of finite deformations can be found in another
publication [12].
Stresses on the Inside and Outside Boundaries
Only the stresses at four points of the boundaries for some
typical a = ID/OD were calculated by Nelson [10]. The
complete analysis was conducted here using his equations:
P P
("»)/ -M„ + ( -My cos2d*+MA cos40*
0
-wRj irR0t
-M0 cos60* + . . .)
and
("«)„ = ^ -M0' - £ - • + - £ - (M2'cos20'-M4'cos0*
wR0t TrR0t itR0t
+M 6 'cos60* . . .)
3TT
where M' = 1 when 6* = w/2 or —
•K 3ir
M'=Owhen0*;* — o r y
MARCH 1986, Vol. 53/213
 M-71
Fig. 1 Geometry and loading of the rings

Fig. 3 Stress factors at the inner boundary of circular rings

diametrically loaded (0.7 < a < 0.91; a as parameter)

Fig. 2 Stress factors at the inner boundary of circular rings

diametrically loaded (0 < a < 0.7; a as parameter)

2a 2
M„ M' =
(1-a2)' '"" (1-a2)
4na"-2(l-a2)(l-a2n)
M„ = for n = 2,4,6,
On
4(1-a2)2 n2a2n
M' = for « = 2,4,6, Fig. 4 Stress factors along the inner boundary of circular rings
Qn diametrically loaded (0 < a < 0.7; - 40 deg < 6 < 90 deg; 6 as
and parameter)

e„=(l-a2")2- -«2a2"-2(l-a2)2 computations reported here, sixty terms were used in the
The meaning of other symbols is explained in Fig. 1. series. A larger number of terms may decrease the amount of
There is good agreement between the more extensive the jump (see for instance Fig. 9). It was also observed that
computations conducted here (Figs. 2-11), and those shown Nelson's values for the inside boundary at the vertical axis are
by Nelson. It should be pointed out, however, that as a slightly higher than some of the ones reported here.
consequence of the series nature of the solution, a jump was
found for the values of the stresses in the neighborhood of the Displacements on the Inside and Outside Boundaries
point of load application for the low values of a. For the Nelson also gives the displacements for the four

214/Vol. 53, MARCH 1986 Transactions of the ASME

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 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
1 1 1 i i T r"
a = 0.76
i

-10

iP
-20

30 riDj^
v»-"
-pO°
^
\ \ e=zo

40
*P

50 \ e=io°

60
8=0°
Kl M-75
Fig. 5 Stress factors along the inner boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0 < a < 0.7; 0 deg < B < - 4 0 deg; 0 as
parameter)
Fig. 8 Stress factors at the outer boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0 < a < 0.76 as parameter)

a = 0.92

0.925

0.75 0.85 -*C a

0.90 M-76
Fig. 6 Stress factors along the inner boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (~ 40 < 0 < 90 deg; 0.7; < a < 0.923; 0 as
parameter)

0.7 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90

Fig. 9 Stress factors at the outer boundary of circular rings

diametrically loaded (0.76 < a < 0.92 as parameter)

aforementioned points (Fig. 1). The values for all points on

the boundries, given in Figs. 12-21, were calculated using the
following equations for (ur), and (ur) 0 10 .
P' P'
(ue)o = (u)R.=0,Ro-Nl -=,+ — (N2'cos2fl*
•KE irE
-N4'cos46*+N0'cos66* )
where
r0=2a/l-a2
An
rf = a"' ' [ « ( ! - -a 2 )(l
rr - 11
2
M-77
Fig. 7 Stress factors along the inner boundary of circular rings + a 2 ") + ( l + a 2 ) ( l -a2")VQ„
diametrically loaded (0 deg < 0 < - 4 0 deg; 0.7; < a < 0.923; 0 as
parameter) for n = 2,4,6 .

Journal of Applied Mechanics MARCH 1986, Vol. 53/215

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 a = 0.86

a = 0.84

UJI.

Fig. 10 Stress factors at the outer boundary of circular rings

diametrically loaded (0.0 < a < 0.76; 0 as parameter)
Fig. 12 Radial displacements at the inner boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0.0 < a < 0.7 as parameter)

a = o.7o

a = o.5o
a = o.40
a =0.20
UJ -

E = Modulus of Elasticity

900 -80 "-

Fig. 11 Stress factors at the outer boundary of circular rings Fig. 13 Radial displacements at the inner boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0.76 < a < 0.92; d as parameter) diametrically loaded (0.7 < a < 0.86 as parameter)

216/Vol. 53, MARCH 1986 Transactions of the ASME

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 5000
e = 90°
a = 0.92 4000 r

4000 -

0 = 0°

Fig. 16 Radial displacements at the inner boundary of circular rings

-4000 -
diametrically loaded (0.7 < a < 0.92; 0 as parameter)

u
-5000
Fig. 14 Radial displacements at the inner boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0.86 < a < 0.92 as parameter)

a = 0.7

Fig. 15 Radial displacements at the inner boundary of circular rings Fig. 17 Radial displacements at the outer boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0 < a < 0.7; e as parameter) diametrically loaded (0.0 < a < 0.7 as parameter)

Journal of Applied Mechanics MARCH 1986, Vol. 53/217

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 a =0.86

a = 0.84

Fig. 18 Radial displacements at the outer boundary of circular rings Fig. 20 Radial displacements at the outer boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0.7 < a < 0.86 as parameter) diametrically loaded (0.0 < a < 0.7 0 as parameter)

a = 0.92

4000

3000 -

a = 0.9
2000 -

a = 0.88
1000
a = 0.86

lul-

-IOOO

-2000 -

-3000 -

-4000

Fig. 19 Radial displacements at the outer boundary of circular rings Fig. 21 Radial displacements at the outer boundary of circular rings
diametrically loaded (0.86 < a < 0.92 as parameter) diametrically loaded (0.7 < a < 0.92; 6 as parameter)

218/Vol. 53, MARCH 1986 Transactions of the AS ME

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 N0< = 2a2/l-a2 acknowledges the financial support of the Minta Martin Fund
An
4n n ([l-a4"]+na2"-2(l~a4)] at the Unversity of Maryland.
N,
n2 - 1 I Qn References
for ft = 2,4,6 . . I Timoshenko, S., "On the Distribution of Stress in a Circular Ring Com-
pressed by Two Forces Along a Diameter," Philosophical Magazine, Vol. 44,
Q„ = (1 - a2")2 - n2a2"-2(l - a2)2 1922, p. 1014.
IP' P' . (1 -sin©*) 2 Roark, R., Formulas for Stress and Strain (3rd ed., McGraw Hill, 1954, p.
(«)«: = + 156.
^ ^ ^sinei0g(i+Sinn 3 Peterson, R. E., Stress Concentration Factors, Wiley, 1974, p. 263.
4 Coker, E. G., and Filon, L. N. G., A Treatise on Photo-Elasticity, Cam-
(l-p)P' bridge University, Press, 1931, p. 373.
COS0* 5 Frocht, M., Photoelasticity, Vol. I, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1941.
IE 6 Billevicz, V., "Analysis of Stress in Circular Rings," Ph.D. thesis,
for -7r/2<0*<7r/2 University of Michigan, 1931.
7 Horger, O. J., and Buckwalter, T. V., "Photoelasticity as Applied to
d* = ir/2-6 Design Problems," Jrn. Age, Vol. 145, Pt. II. No. 21, 1940, p. 42.
8 Bell, G., "Theorie and Versuche ueber einige Faelle von Span-
nungsverteilung in ringfoermigen Koerperen," Zeitshcrift fuer angew. Math.
andMech., Band 10, Heft 1, Feb. 1930, pp. 52-73.
Acknowledgment 9 Ripperger, E. A., and David N., "Critical Stresses in a Circular Ring,"
Proc. ASCE, Feb. 1946.
Professor Durelli is grateful to the chairman of the 10 Nelson, C. W., "Stresses and Displacements in a Hollow Circular
Mechanical Engineering Department, Prof. W. Fourney, for Cylinder," Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, 1939.
the opportunity of conducting this study, part of a series of II Durelli, A. J., and Parks, V. J., Moire Analysis of Strain, Prentice-Hall,
New York, 1970.
studies on the analysis of stress and displacement. Credit 12 Durelli, A. J., "Stress Concentrations," in Experimental Evaluation of
should be given to Steve Thorssell for the drawings and to Stress Concentration and Intensity Factors, G. C. Sih, ed., Martenus Nijhoff,
Thelma Miller for reproducing the manuscript. Y. H. Lin 1981, p. 50-55.

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Journal of Applied Mechanics MARCH 1986, Vol. 53/219

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