Notch Effect
The notch effect describes the local stress concentration at notches or sharp transitions in material – e.g. at thread roots, sharp flanks or lead-in and runout zones.
Why it is critical:
- Notches can initiate cracks.
- Particularly relevant under cyclic loading or bending/tension stress.
Practical example:
A sharp thread runout without a transition or relief groove acts like a notch – under high loads, material failure can occur at this point.