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BACKGROUND: Structural integrity assessment of components containing cracks is of paramount importance when they are part of critical structures. In this context, the fracture behavior of components containing cracks is crucial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the diameter, number and position of holes drilled in the vicinity of the centre crack in a finite plate on the mode I stress intensity factor (SIF). METHODS: A 2D model with central horizontal crack was created in ABAQUS® simulation software and validated with the analytical results after performing mesh convergence. Circular holes of different diameters and at different positions were then introduced in the vicinity of the crack. RESULTS: By increasing the diameter of the hole and its number, the SIF reduced significantly. An optimum amount of distance between the crack and the hole was found at which the SIF was minimum, beyond it increased and asymptotically approached that of the plate without holes. CONCLUSION: The diameter of the hole and the spcacing between the hole-centre and the crack axis has a major influence on the mode I SIF. By introducing multiple holes, the mode I SIF significantly reduced.