The role of pressure anisotropy on the maximum mass of cold compact stars

We study the physical features of a class of exact solutions for cold compact anisotropic stars. The effect of pressure anisotropy on the maximum mass and surface red-shift is analysed in the Vaidya-Tikekar model. It is shown that maximum compactness, red-shift and mass increase in the presence of anisotropic pressures; numerical values are generated which are in agreement with observation.