Reducing the stress concentration factor (SCF) in a design has been always a major challenge for mechanical designers. In this paper, a comprehensive investigation is conducted on the SCF reduction problem. Using a novel interactive two-step procedure, the benchmark SCF reduction problem of an axially loaded plate with a central circular hole is studied. In the first step of the procedure, the reliever topological material elimination approach is used. Numerical results show a considerable permanent reduction in SCF and the weight of the plate, simultaneously. In the second step of the procedure, piezoelectric actuators arranged by Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm are used to perform a smart and controllable decrease in the SCF. Furthermore, the effect of the number of actuators used, the optimal pattern for locating actuators in each case, and the values of optimal voltages for each pattern are investigated. Finally, some experimental tests are carried out to validate the numerical results. As the final results show, this procedure decreases the SCF and the weight of the plate up to 54.4% and 25.2%, respectively. Making comparisons between the procedure and two previous techniques, the procedure is more effective in satisfying the problem objects. Finally, an interactive procedure helping designers in problem-solving and decision making in an SCF reduction problem is proposed.