Knowledge Based Systems in Stress Concentration Analysis

An essential element of successful fatigue analysis is the accurate determination of stress concentrations around stress-raising features. Analytical modeling methods are helpful in focusing limited product engineering resources on priority areas, before more resource intensive techniques, such as finite element analysis (FEA), are used. Quick and easy access to such data is important when alternative geometries may need to be considered.

The paper reports on the knowledge-based expert system SCONES (Stress CONcentration Expert System), which provides access to specialist knowledge and data on stress concentration problems for a wide range of feature geometries. The system structure and capabilities are introduced and the relevance of the system is illustrated through its application to a particular stress concentration problem.