This paper deals with the study of stress distribution around holes in wedges. Ling and Hsul have reported a theoretical analysis for an infinite wedge of uniform thickness and variable depth (with a circular hole), using stress functions. In the present investigation, a large number of electrical resistance strain gauges of small gauge length (3 mm) were used for obtaining the distribution of stresses in a cantilevered wedge of uniform thickness and variable depth, with a circular hole subjected to end loading. The wedge was made of perspex. The results obtained indicate a maximum stress concentration factor of 1.7 using Timoshenko's method of calculating the nominal stress in the wedge at the hole boundary (using his theory of calculating stresses in a wedge without a hole). The experiments on the cantilevered wedge indicate a lower stressconcentration factor compared with the results obtained theoretically by Ling and Hsu for an infinite wedge. In addition to vertical loading, stress distribution with a load inclined to the vertical was also obtained.

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This paper deals with the determination of stresses around a circular hole in a cantilevered wedge of uniform thickness subjected to end loading, using electrical resistance strain gauges. The authors have previously reported a similar investigation on a 45' wedge.' The results obtained are compared with the theoretical analysis for an infinite perforated wedge given by Ling and H S U .~ The stress concentration factors are calculated on the basis of nominal stress in the wedge at the hole boundary (using the theory for calculating stresses in a wedge without a hole).A maximum stress concentration factor of 3.2 was indicated for an end vertical load; and a maximum factor of 2.6 was indicated for an end horizontal load.

This paper deals with the study of stresses in tapered beams. Stress trajectories and stress contours have been plotted for rectangular cantilever beam with horizontal top face and linear taper at the bottom face. Further research work is planned for different types of tapers (e.g. sinusoidal, parabolic) of the bottom face of a tapered beam.