By Reza Barati

Under Guidance of Prof. G. Heidarinejad

Continuum Mechanics
University of Tarbiat Modares
Dec, 12 2011
E-mail: r88barati@gmail.com

In The Name of God
Introduction
Plane strain
Plane stress
Plane stress versus plane strain
Book examples
Summary
In real engineering components, stress and strain are 3-D
tensors, but many problems in elasticity may be treated
satisfactorily by a two dimensional, or plane theory of elasticity.
There are two general types of problems involved in this plane
analysis, plane stress and plane strain. These two types will be
defined by setting down certain restrictions and assumptions on
the stress and displacement fields.
3 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
If one dimension is very large compared to the others, the
principal strain in the direction of the longest dimension is
constrained and can be assumed as zero, yielding a plane strain
condition.
Plane strain state in a continuum
4 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The displacements and corresponding strain tensor can be
approximated by:
( )
( )
( )
11 11 1 2
22 22 1 2
12 12 1 2
13 23 33
11 12
21 22
, ,
, ,
, ,
0
0
0
0 0 0
E E X X
E E X X
E E X X
E E E
or
E E
E E E
=
=
=
= = =
(
(
=
(
(

( ) ( )
1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 3
, , , , 0 u u X X u u X X u = = =
| |
3 1
1
1 2
3 1
1
2 1
3 1 2 2 2
2 1 2 3 2
3
3 2
3 1
3
3 2
3 1
1
2
1
1
2
2
1 1
2 2
1
1
2
2
j
i
ij
j i
u
u
E
X X
or
u u
u
u u
X X
X
X X
u u u u u
E
X X X X X
u
u u
u u
X
X X
X X
| | c
c
= +
|
|
c c
\ .
(
| | c c
c
| | c c
+
( | +
|
c c
c
c c \ .
(
\ .
(
| | | | c c c c c
(
= + +
| |
( c c c c c
\ . \ .
(
c
| | c c | | c c (
+
+
|
|
(
c
c c
c c
\ .
\ .

5 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The corresponding stress tensor is:
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
12 21 13 31
11 11 1 2 22 22 1 2 12 12 1 2 21
33 33 11 22 33 11 22
11 12
21 22
33
2
0
, , , , , ,
1
0 0
0
0
0 0
ij ij ij
Y
T e E
T T T T
T T X X T T X X T T X X T
E T T T T T T
E
or
T T
T T T
T
o
v v
= +
= = = =
= = = =
= = + = + (

(
(
=
(
(

6 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
For a static stress field associated with a plane strain problem in
the absence of body forces, the equilibrium equations reduce to
13 11 12
1 2 3
0
ij
j
T T T
X X X
T
X
c c c
+ +
c c c
c
=
c
0
23 21 22
1 2 3
0
T T T
X X X
=
c c c
+ +
c c c
0
31
1
0
T
X
=
c
c
0
32
2
T
X
c
+
c
( )
33 33 1 2
0
,
33
3
11 12
21 22
33
0
0
0
0 0
T T X X
T
OK
X
T T
T T T
T
=
c
+ =
c
(
(
=
(
(

7 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
It can be verified that the other two equations of equilibrium
are satisfied for the stress components calculated from the
following equations for any scalar function
1
,
2
, known as
the Airy stress function:
2 2
2
13
2 2
11
2
2 1 2 1 3
2
11 12
2
1 2
22
2
21 22 1
2
1 2
12
1 2
,
0
,
0
T
T
X X X X X
X
T T
X X
T
T T X
X X
T
X X
| |
|
|
|
c c c

c
+
=

c c c c c
c
c c


+ =


c c
c
=
`
c c c

+ =

c c
c )
=
c c

0
2 2
23
2 2
1 2 1 2 3
0 OK
T
X X X X X
| |
=
c c c
+ +
c c c c c
0
31
1
0 OK
T
X
=
c
c
0
32
2
T
X
c
+
c
0
33
3
T
X
c
+
c
( )
0
2 2
33 11 22
2 2
1 2
0 OK
T T T
X X
| |
v v
=
| |
c c
= + = +
|
c c
\ .
8 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The Airy stress function (): solutions to plane strain and
plane stress problems can be obtained by using various
stress function techniques which employ the Airy stress
function to reduce the generalized formulation to the governing
equations with solvable unknowns.
1. Scalar potential function that can be used to find the stress
tensor.
2. Satisfies equilibrium in the absence of body forces.
3. Only for two-dimensional problems (plane stress-plane strain).
9 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
However, not all stress components obtained this way are
acceptable as possible elastic solutions, because the strain
components derived from them may not be compatible; that is,
there may not exist displacement components that correspond
to the strain components. To ensure the compatibility of the
strain components, we first obtain the strain components in
terms of as follows:
( ) { } ( ) ( )
( ) { } ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2
11 11 22 11 22
2 2
2 1
2 2
2
22 22 11 22 11
2 2
1 2
2
12 12
1 2
13 23 33
1 1
1 1 ,
1 1
1 1 ,
1 1
1 1 ,
0
Y Y
Y Y
Y Y
E T T T T
E E X X
E T T T T
E E X X
E T
E E X X
E E E
| |
v v v v v
| |
v v v v v
|
v v
(
c c
(
= + + = +
(

c c

(
c c
(
= + + = +
(

c c

c
= + = +
c c
= = =
10 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The six compatibility equations are
11 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
2 2 2
11 22 12
2 2
2 1 1 2
2 2 2
33 23 22
2 2
3 2 2 3
2 2 2
33 31 11
2 2
1 3 3 1
2
23 31 11 12
2 3 1 1 2 3
2
31 23 22 12
3 1 2 2 3 1
2
33
1 2
2
2
2
E E E
X X X X
E E E
X X X X
E E E
X X X X
E E E E
X X X X X X
E E E E
X X X X X X
E
X X
c c c
+ =
c c c c
c c c
+ =
c c c c
c c c
+ =
c c c c
| | c c c c c
= + +
|
c c c c c c
\ .
| | c c c c c
= + +
|
c c c c c c
\ .
c
=
c c
23 31 12
3 3 1 2
E E E
X X X X
| | c c c c
+ +
|
c c c c
\ .
For plane strain problems, the only compatibility equation that
is not automatically satisfied is



2 2 2
11 22 12
2 2
2 1 1 2
2
E E E
X X X X
c c c
+ =
c c c c
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 1 1 1 2
2
2 2 4 4 4
4 2 2 4
1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2
4 4 4
4 2 2 4
1 1 2 2
1
1 1 1 1
1
2
1 2 0
2 0
Y
Y Y
E X X X X X X
E X X X X E X X X X
X X X X
| | | |
v v v v v v
v
| | | |
v
| | |

( (
c c c c c c
+ + +
`
( (
c c c c c c


)

( (
c c c c c
= + + + =
( (
c c c c c c c c

c c c
+ + =
c c c c
12 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
Substitution of the strain components into above Equation
results in (this relation is called the biharmonic equation)
A state of plane stress exists
when one of the three
principal
11
,
22
,
33
,
stresses is zero. This usually
occurs in structural elements
where one dimension is very
small compared to the other
two, i.e. the element is flat or
thin. In this case, the stresses
are negligible with respect to
the smaller dimension as they
are not able to develop
within the material and are
small compared to the in-
plane stresses.
Plane stress state in a continuum
13 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The stress and strain tensors are:





( )
( )
( )
( )
11 1 2 12 1 2
21 1 2 22 1 2
11 12
21 22
33
, , 0
, , 0
0 0 0
0
0
0 0
T X X T X X
T T X X T X X
E E
E E E
E
(
(
=
(
(

(
(
=
(
(

14 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
2 2 2
11 22 12
2 2
2 1 1 2
, , T T T
X X X X
| | | c c c
= = =
c c c c
The equations of equilibrium can be assured if we again
introduce the Airy stress function, which is repeated here:
Corresponding to this state of plane stress, the strain
components are
15 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
| |
| |
| |
( ) ( )
2 2
11 11 22
2 2
2 1
2 2
22 22 11
2 2
1 2
2 2
33 11 22
2 2
2 1
2
12 12
1 2
13 23
1 1
,
1 1
,
,
1 1
1 1 ,
0
Y Y
Y Y
Y Y
Y Y
E T T
E E X X
E T T
E E X X
E T T
E E X X
E T
E E X X
E E
| |
v v
| |
v v
v v | |
|
v v
(
c c
= =
(
c c

(
c c
= =
(
c c

(
c c
= + = +
(
c c

c
= + = +
c c
= =
In order that these strains are compatible, they must satisfy the
six compatibility equations. The consequences are:
4 4 4
4 2 2 4
1 1 2 2
2 0
X X X X
| | | c c c
+ + =
c c c c
16 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
2 2 2
33 33 33
2 2
1 2 1 2
0, 0, 0
E E E
X X X X
c c c
= = =
c c c c
Thus,
33
must be a linear function of
1
and
2
. Since

33
=

11
+
22
;
11
+
22
must be a linear function of

1
and
2
.
Plane stress and plane strain do not ordinarily occur
simultaneously. One exception is when
33
= 0 and
11
= -
22
,
since Hookes Law gives
33
= 0.
17 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
- Plane Stress Plane Strain
Stresses
33
=0,
13
=0,
23
=0

11
,
22
,
12
may be non-zero.

13
=0,
23
=0

11
,
22
,
33
,
12
may be non-zero.
Strains
13
=0,
23
=0

11
,
22
,
33
,
12
may be non-zero.

33
=0,
13
=0,
23
=0

11
,
22
,
12
may be non-zero.
Consider the following state of stress in a cylindrical body with

3
axis normal to its cross-sections:




Show that the most general form of
1
,
2
, which gives rise
to a possible state of stress in the body in the absence of body
force, is
| |
( )
1 2
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 ,
T
G X X
(
(
=
(
(

( )
1 2 1 2
, G X X X X o | = + +
18 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The strain components are

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
11 11 22 33 11 1 2
22 22 11 33 22 1 2
33 33 11 22 33 1 2
12 12 12
13 13 13
23 23 23
1
, ,
1
, ,
1 1
, ,
1
0,
2
1
0,
2
1
0
2
Y Y
Y Y
Y Y
E T T T E G X X
E E
E T T T E G X X
E E
E T T T E G X X
E E
E T E
E T E
E T E
v
v
v
v
v

= + = (

= + = (

= + = (

= =
= =
= =
19 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
Substituting the preceding into the compatibility equations, we
obtain






Thus, for the given stress tensor to be a possible elastic state of
stress, G
1
,
2
must be a linear function of
1
and
2
. That is,
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
33 23 22
1 2 2 1
2 2 2
3 2 2 3 2
2 2 2 2
33 31 11
1 2 1 2
2 2 2
1 3 3 1 1
2 2
33 23 31 12
1 2 3 3 1 2 1 2
2 0 ,
2 0 ,
0
E E E G
G X X X f X c
X X X X X
E E E G
G X X X g X d
X X X X X
E E E E G
X X X X X X X X
|
o
c c c c
+ = = = + +
c c c c c
c c c c
+ = = = + +
c c c c c
| |
c c c c c c
= + + =
|
c c c c c c c c
\ .
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
1 2 2 1
1 2 1 2
1 2 1 2
,
,
,
G X X X f X c
G X X X X
G X X X g X d
|
o |
o
= + + |
= + +
|
|
= + +
.
20 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The airy stress function that satisfies the biharmonic equation is:


The stress components from the plane strain are:



( )
3
1 2 2
,
6
X X X
|
| =
( )
2
11 2
2
2
2
22
2
1
2
33 11 22 2
2
2
12
1 2
13 13
,
0,
0 0
, 0 0 0
0 0
0,
0
T X
X
T
X
X
T T T X T
X
T
X X
T T
|
|
|
|
v v|
v|
|
| c
= =
|
c
|
|
c
= = |
c
( |
( |
= + = =
( |
( |
c
= =
|
c c
|
|
= =
|
|
.
21 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The surface tractions (i.e., stress vectors on the surface of the
body) on the boundary of the body are




( )
( )
( )
( )
1 1 2 1
1 1 2 1
2 2
3 3 2 3
0
0
2
2
t Tn
X t T e X e
X l t T e X e
h
X t T e
b
X t T e X e
|
|
v|
=
= = =
= = =
= = =
= = =
22 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
2 1
2 1
2
0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0
X e
X e
X
|
|
v|

( (
( (
=
( (
( (

If the beam is unconstrained at
3
=

,



2
2
0 0
0 0 0
0 0
X
T
X
|
v|
(
(
=
(
(

23 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
( )
1 2 2
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 ,
T
G X X X v|
(
(
' =
(
(
=

2
0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
X
T T
|
(
(
' + =
(
(

The airy stress function is:


This satisfies the biharmonic equation.

( )
3
1 2 1 2 1 2
, X X X X X X | o | = +
4
4
1
4 4 4 4
2 2 4 2 2 4
1 2 1 1 2 2
4
4
2
0
0 2 0
0
X
X X X X X X
X
|
| | | |
|
|
c
=
|
c
|
|
c c c c
= + + = |
c c c c c c
|
|
c
|
=
|
c
.
24 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
The in-plane stresses are:



( )
2
11 1 2
2
2
2
22
2
2
1
1 2 2
2
33 11 22 1 2 2
2
1 2
2
12 2
1 2
13 13
6 ,
0,
6 ( 3 ) 0
6 , ( 3 ) 0 0
0 0 6
3 ,
0
T X X
X
T
X
X X X
T T T X X T X
X X
T X
X X
T T
|
o
|
o | o
v vo | o
vo
|
| o
| c
= =
|
c
|
|
c
= = |
c ( +
|
(
|
= + = = +
(
|
(
|
c

= =
|
c c
|
|
= =
|
|
.
25 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
On the boundary planes
2
=

, we demand that they are

traction-free. Thus,



( )
2
2
1 2 2
2
2 2
1 2
2
2 2
2 1 1
2
6 ( 3 ) 0 0
( 3 ) 0 0 1
0 0 6 0
3
( 3 ) ( 3 )
4 4
h
X
X X X
t T e X
X X
h
t X e e h
o | o
| o
vo
| o | o | o
=
( +
(
(
(
= = +
(
(
(
(


(
( = + = + =
(


26 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
On the boundary plane
1
= 0, the surface traction is given by











( ) ( )
2 2 2
1 2 2 2 2
3
( 3 ) 4
4
t T e X e h X e
o
| o = = + = +
( ) ( )
2
2 2 3
2
2 2
2
3
3
3 3
3 3
4 4 12
2 3
2 2
h
h
h h bh
P dA X bdX bh
bh P P
P and
bh bh
o o
o o
o o |

| | | |
= + = +
| |
\ . \ .
| |
= = =
|
\ .
} }
27 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
Let the resultant of this distribution be denoted by -P
2
; then
In terms of P , the in-plane stress components are
=


)
3
1 2
11 1 2 22
3
2 2
2 2
12 2 2 12
1 2
12
, 0,
12
3 3
,
2 4 2 2 2
Max
PX X P bh
T X X T Where I
bh I
P h P P P
T X X T
X X I A I A
|
= = = =
| | c
= = = =
|
c c
\ .
28 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
( )
( )
( )
1
2
1 2
2
2
1 2
1 2
2
2 1 2 2
3
0 1
2 2
3
0 0 0
2 2
0 0
0
3
2 2
X L
P P
PX X I
X
A I
P P
t T e X
A I
PX X I
PL P P
X e X e
I A I
v
=
(

(
(
(
(
= =
(
(
(
(

(


= +
` `
) )
For
1
=


If the beam is in a plane strain condition , there will be normal
compressive stresses on the boundary
3
=

whose
magnitude is given by
( )
33 11 22 1 2
3
11 12
21 22
33
11 12
21 22
12
0
0
0 0
0
0
0 0 0
P
T T T X X
bh
T T
T T T
T
E E
E E E
v v = + =
(
(
=
(
(

(
(
=
(
(

29 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
2
11 11 22 33 11 11 22
2
22 22 11 33 22 22 11
12 12 12 12
1 1
1 1 ,
1 1
1 1 ,
1 1
1
2
Y Y
Y Y
Y
E T T T E T T
E E
E T T T E T T
E E
E T E T
E
v v v v
v v v v
v

(
= + = + (


(
= + = + (


= = +
( )
11 1 2 1 2
3
22 33 11 22 1 2
3
2 2
2
12 2
1 2
12
,
12
0, ,
,
2 4
P P
T X X X X
bh I
P
T T T T X X
bh
P h
T X
X X I
v v
|
= =
= = + =
| | c
= =
|
c c
\ .
This plane strain solution is:




30 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
Since
33
is not a linear function of
1
and
2
, it cannot be
simply removed to give a plane stress solution without affecting
the other stress components. However, if the beam is very thin
(i.e., very small b compared with the other dimensions), then a
good approximate solution for the beam is



11 12 11 12
21 22 21 22
33
0 0
0 , 0
0 0 0 0 0
T T E E
T T T E E E
E
( (
( (
= =
( (
( (

31 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
| | | |
| | ( )
11 11 22 22 22 11
33 11 22 12 12
1 1
, ,
1
, 1
Y Y
Y Y
E T T E T T
E E
E T T E T
E E
v v
v
v
= =
= + = +
Plane strain and Plane stress are two simplification structural models for the
modeling of 3D problems, in which:
Plane strain modelling: strain in Z-direction is negligible.




Plane stress modelling: stress in Z-direction is negligible.



32 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
11 12 11 12
21 22 21 22
33
0 0
0 , 0
0 0 0 0 0
E E T T
E E E T T T
T
( (
( (
= =
( (
( (

11 12 11 12
21 22 21 22
33
0 0
0 , 0
0 0 0 0 0
T T E E
T T T E E E
E
( (
( (
= =
( (
( (

Under what conditions a problem can be approximated as a plane
problem?
In general, if the problem has one dimension is much larger (or
smaller) than the other two directions, one should consider plane
strain (stress).






33 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
PLANE STRESS Examples:
1. Thin plate with a hole
2. Thin cantilever plate
22
T
11
T
12
T
12
T
34 Plane Strain and Plane Stress
1. Dam subjected to water loading
2. Long cylindrical pressure vessel subjected to
internal/external pressure and constrained at
the ends
1
Slice of unit
thickness
22
T
11
T
12
T
12
T
33
T
PLANE STRAIN Examples:
35 Plane Strain and Plane Stress