P4 Stress and Strain Dr. A.B.

Zavatsky
HT08

Lecture 6
Mohrs Circle for Plane Stress
Transformation equations for plane stress.
Procedure for constructing Mohrs circle.
Stresses on an inclined element.
Principal stresses and maximum shear stresses.
Introduction to the stress tensor.

1
 Stress Transformation Equations
y
y y1
yx y1 y1x1 x1y1 x1
y
xy x1

x x
x x
xy x1 y1x1
yx x1y1
y1

x + y x y
x1 = + cos 2 + xy sin 2
2 2

x1 y1 =
( x y )
sin 2 + xy cos 2
2
If we vary from 0 to 360, we will get all possible values of x1 and x1y1
for a given stress state. It would be useful to represent x1 and x1y1 as
functions of in graphical form.
2
To do this, we must re-write the transformation equations.
x + y x y
x1 = cos 2 + xy sin 2
2 2

x1 y1 =
( x y )
sin 2 + xy cos 2
2

Eliminate by squaring both sides of each equation and adding

the two equations together.
2 2
x + y x y
x1 + x1 y12 = + xy 2

2 2

Define avg and R

2
x + y x y
avg = R= + xy 2

2 2
3
Substitue for avg and R to get

( x1 avg ) 2 + x1 y12 = R 2
which is the equation for a circle with centre (avg,0) and radius R.

This circle is usually referred to as

Mohrs circle, after the German civil
engineer Otto Mohr (1835-1918). He
developed the graphical technique for
drawing the circle in 1882.

The construction of Mohrs circle is

one of the few graphical techniques
still used in engineering. It provides
a simple and clear picture of an
otherwise complicated analysis.

4
 Sign Convention for Mohrs Circle

y1
y ( x1 avg ) 2 + x1 y12 = R 2
y1 y1x1 x1y1 x1
x1 2

avg x1
x
R
x1 y1x1
x1y1
y1 x1y1

Notice that shear stress is plotted as positive downward.

The reason for doing this is that 2 is then positive counterclockwise,

which agrees with the direction of 2 used in the derivation of the
tranformation equations and the direction of on the stress element.

Notice that although 2 appears in Mohrs circle, appears on the

stress element.
5
Procedure for Constructing Mohrs Circle
1. Draw a set of coordinate axes with x1 as abscissa (positive to the
right) and x1y1 as ordinate (positive downward).
2. Locate the centre of the circle c at the point having coordinates x1
= avg and x1y1 = 0.
3. Locate point A, representing the stress conditions on the x face of
the element by plotting its coordinates x1 = x and x1y1 = xy. Note
that point A on the circle corresponds to = 0.
4. Locate point B, representing the stress conditions on the y face of
the element by plotting its coordinates x1 = y and x1y1 = xy.
Note that point B on the circle corresponds to = 90.
5. Draw a line from point A to point B, a diameter of the circle passing
through point c. Points A and B (representing stresses on planes
at 90 to each other) are at opposite ends of the diameter (and
therefore 180 apart on the circle).
6. Using point c as the centre, draw Mohrs circle through points A
and B. This circle has radius R.
(based on Gere)
6
 y
B yx
y
xy
y
x
x x
B (=90)
xy A
-xy yx

x1
c
R
xy

A (=0)

avg
x
x1y1
7
 Stresses on an Inclined Element
1. On Mohrs circle, measure an angle 2 counterclockwise from
radius cA, because point A corresponds to = 0 and hence is
the reference point from which angles are measured.

2. The angle 2 locates the point D on the circle, which has

coordinates x1 and x1y1. Point D represents the stresses on the
x1 face of the inclined element.

3. Point E, which is diametrically opposite point D on the circle, is

located at an angle 2 + 180 from cA (and 180 from cD). Thus
point E gives the stress on the y1 face of the inclined element.

4. So, as we rotate the x1y1 axes counterclockwise by an angle ,

the point on Mohrs circle corresponding to the x1 face moves
counterclockwise through an angle 2.
(based on Gere)

8
 y
B yx
y1 y
xy
x
x x
B (=90)
xy A
E (+90) 2+180 yx
-x1y1
x1
x1y1 c
D ()
y
R 2 y1
y1 y1x1 x1y1
A (=0) x1
E x1

x1 D
x
x1 y1x1
x1y1
x1y1 y1

9
 y
Principal Stresses B yx
y
xy
x
x x
B (=90)
2p2 xy A
yx

1 x1
2 c
2p1 y
R
2
A (=0)
P2 1
p2
p1 P1
x
1

x1y1 2
10
 Maximum Shear Stress y
B yx
y
xy

B (=90) x x
x

min xy A
2s yx

x1 Note carefully the

c
directions of the
y shear forces.
max R
s
A (=0)
max s
max s max
s x
s max
x1y1 s
11
Example: The state of plane stress at a point is represented by the stress
element below. Draw the Mohrs circle, determine the principal stresses and
the maximum shear stresses, and draw the corresponding stress elements.
x + y 80 + 50
c = avg = = = 15 1,2 = c R
2 2
1,2 = 15 69.6
R= (50 ( 15)) 2 + (25)2 1 = 54.6 MPa
R = 65 2 + 25 2 = 69.6 2 = 84.6 MPa
A (=0)

2 1

c
B
50 MPa R
B (=90)
y
80 MPa x 80 MPa

A max max = R = 69.6 MPa

25 MPa s = c = 15 MPa
50 MPa

12
 50 MPa
25
tan 2 2 = = 0.3846
80 15
y
2 2 = 21.0
80 MPa x 80 MPa
21 = 21.0 + 180 = 201

25 MPa 1 = 100.5 2 = 10.5

50 MPa

A (=0)

2 1
y

22 c
54.6 MPa R
21 B (=90)
100.5
o 84.6 MPa

84.6 MPa x
10.5o
2

54.6 MPa

13
 50 MPa
2 2 = 21.0
2 s min = (90 21.0) = 69.0
y
s min = 34.5
80 MPa x 80 MPa
taking sign convention into
min account
25 MPa
50 MPa

A (=0) 2
2smin

y 22 c
15 MPa R
15 MPa B (=90)
2smax
o
55.5
x
-34.5o
max 2 2 = 21.0
15 MPa
15 MPa 2 s max = 21.0 + 90 = 111.0
s max = 55.5
69.6 MPa

14
Example: The state of plane stress at a point is represented by the stress
element below. Find the stresses on an element inclined at 30 clockwise
and draw the corresponding stress elements.
50 MPa
x1 = c R cos(22+60)
y1 = c + R cos(22+60)
y C ( = -30) x1y1= -R sin (22+60)
80 MPa x 80 MPa x1 = -26
y1 = -4
-60 x1y1= -69
A (=0)
25 MPa
50 MPa

y1
y 22
4.15 MPa B (=90)
25.8 MPa
D
-60+180
o x
-30
25.8 MPa D ( = -30+90) 2
4.15 MPa C x1 = -30
68.8 MPa 2 = -60

15
Principal Stresses 1 = 54.6 MPa, 2 = -84.6 MPa
But we have forgotten about the third principal stress!

Since the element is in plane stress (z = 0),

the third principal stress is zero.

1 = 54.6 MPa
2 = 0 MPa
A (=0)
3 = -84.6 MPa

This means three

3 2 1
Mohrs circles can
be drawn, each
based on two
principal stresses: B (=90)

1 and 3
1 and 2
2 and 3

16
 3

1 1

3
3 3 2 1

1 1
3

1 1
3
17
 y
The stress element shown is in plane stress. B yx
What is the maximum shear stress? xy
y
x
x x

B xy A
yx

3 2 1
x1

2
max(1,2) = 1
2
A 3 2
max(2,3) = 2 =
2 2
1 3 1

overall maximum max(1,3) = =
x1y1 2 2

18
 Introduction to the Stress Tensor
y
yy
yx
xx xy xz
yz
xy

zy yx yy yz
xx xx x
zx xz zx zy zz
zz
Normal stresses on the diagonal
z Shear stresses off diagaonal
yy xy = yx, xz = zx, yz = zy

The normal and shear stresses on a stress element in 3D can be

assembled into a 3x3 matrix known as the stress tensor.

19
From our analyses so far, we know that for a given stress system,
it is possible to find a set of three principal stresses. We also know
that if the principal stresses are acting, the shear stresses must be
zero. In terms of the stress tensor,

xx xy xz 1 0 0

yx yy yz 0 2 0
0
zx zy zz 0 3

In mathematical terms, this is the process of matrix diagonaliza-

tion in which the eigenvalues of the original matrix are just the
principal stresses.

20
Example: The state of plane stress at a point is represented by the
stress element below. Find the principal stresses.
50 MPa

x xy 80 25
y M = =

80 MPa x 80 MPa yx y 25 50
We must find the eigenvalues of
25 MPa
50 MPa
this matrix.

Remember the general idea of eigenvalues. We are looking

for values of such that:
Ar = r where r is a vector, and A is a matrix.
Ar r = 0 or (A I) r = 0 where I is the identity matrix.

For this equation to be true, either r = 0 or det (A I) = 0.

Solving the latter equation (the characteristic equation)
gives us the eigenvalues 1 and 2.
21
 80 25
det = 0
25 50
(80 )(50 ) (25)(25) = 0
2 + 30 4625 = 0 So, the principal stresses are 84.6 MPa and
= 84.6, 54.6 54.6 MPa, as before.
Knowing the eigenvalues, we can find the eigenvectors. These can be
used to find the angles at which the principal stresses act. To find the
eigenvectors, we substitute the eigenvalues into the equation (A I ) r
= 0 one at a time and solve for r.

80 25 x 0 134.6 25 x 0
= =
25 50 y 0 25 4.64 y 0
80 54.6 25 x 0 x = 0.186 y
=
25 50 54.6 y 0 0.186
is one eigenvector.
1
22
 80 25 x 0 4.6 25 x 0
= =
25 50 y 0 25 134.6 y 0
80 (84.6) 25 x 0 x = 5.388 y
=
25 50 (84.6) y 0 5.388 is the other eigenvector.

1
Before finding the angles at which the principal stresses act, we can
check to see if the eigenvectors are correct.
54.6 0 0.186 5.388 80 25
D = C = M =
0 84.6 1 1 25 50
D = C 1M C

C 1 =
1
AT where A = matrix of co - factors
det C
1 0.179 0.967
C =
0.179 0.033
23
 0.179 0.967 80 25 0.186 5.388 54.6 0
D = =
0.179 0.033 25 50 1 1 0 84.6

To find the angles, we must calculate the unit eigenvectors:

0.186 0.183 5.388 0.938

1 0.983 1 0.183
And then assemble them into a rotation matrix R so that det R = +1.
0.983 0.183
R = det R = (0.983)(0.983) (0.183)(0.183) = 1
0.183 0.983
The rotation matrix has the form
cos sin
R = D = RT M R
sin cos

So = 10.5, as we found earlier for one of the principal angles.

24
Using the rotation angle of 10.5, the matrix M (representing the
original stress state of the element) can be transformed to matrix
D (representing the principal stress state).

D = RT M R
0.983 0.183 80 25 0.983 0.183
D =
0.183 0.983 25 50 0.183 0.983
84.6 0
D =
0 54.6
y

54.6 MPa
So, the transformation equations,
o 84.6 MPa Mohrs circle, and eigenvectors all
100.5
give the same result for the principal
84.6 MPa x
10.5o stress element.

54.6 MPa

25
Finally, we can use the rotation matrix approach to find the stresses
on an inclined element with = -30.

cos(30) sin( 30) 0.866 0.5

R = =
sin( 30) cos(30) 0.5 0.866
M = RT M R
0.866 0.5 80 25 0.866 0.5
M =
0.5 0.866 25 50 0.5 0.866 y1
y
25.8 68.8 x1 xy
M = =

68.8 4.15 yx y1
4.15 MPa
25.8 MPa

Again, the transformation equations, o

-30
x
Mohrs circle, and the stress tensor 25.8 MPa
approach all give the same result.
4.15 MPa x1
68.8 MPa
26