MOHR’S CIRCLE

When a body is subjected to combination of stresses, The

stresses on an oblique plane is made Graphical Method –
Using Mohr’s Circle

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering
 Why Mohr’s Circle?
• Mohr’s circle is a geometric representation of the 2-D transformation of
stresses and is very useful to perform quick and efficient estimations,
checks of more extensive work, and other such uses.
• Gives accurate values
• Easier than Analytical Method

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering
 Instruments Required
• Compass
• Scale
• Protractor
• Pencil

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering
 Body subjected to two mutually
Perpendicular Direct Stress
σy

σn
σx σx
σt
ϴ

σy
Let σx and σy be the two direct stresses, where
major tensile stress be σx. It is required to find
the normal and tangential stress on the plane
inclined at an angle of ϴ
©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering
 Construction Procedure
• Draw the x-axis and y-axis meeting at point O
• From O, draw OA = σx and OB = σy. If both are tensile, both are taken on
the positive side of O along x-axis and one is compressive, it is taken on
the negative side O along x-axis only.
• Bisect AB at C, and with C as the centre and CA or Cb as the radius ,
Draw a circle. This is your Mohr’s Circle.
• Through C draw CP making an angle 2ϴ - along positive direction, if
angle ϴ is acting anti clockwise, from either σx or σy.
• From P, drop perpendicular PQ on AB, giving you the tangential stress,
and OQ = normal stress, and OP = Resultant stress.
• Angle POQ is the angle of obliquity of the resultant stress.

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering
 Points to Remember
• Before starting the Problem, decide a SCALE. 1mm = 10N/mm2 (as you are
drawing Stresses here )
• If stress σx is tensile, it will be drawn positive direction of x-axis and if σy is
tensile, it will also be drawn on the positive direction of x-axis ONLY
• Y-axis on Mohr Circle is only to denote Shear Stress or Tangential Stress and
nothing else
• X-axis on Mohr’s circle denotes ONLY Normal Stress
• If any of the direct stress is COMPRESSIVE, draw it on the left of O, along x-
axis
• Angle ϴ to checked, if in relation to σx or σy. And also the direction in which
it is acting. If anticlockwise w.r.t σy, then draw the angle 2ϴ positive
direction from σy.
• Angle ϴ in main diagram becomes 2 ϴ in Mohr’s Circle. And so does all other
angles.
• While finding out the Normal Stress, Tangential Stress and resultant stress
do not forget to multiply with the scale value

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering
 Body Subjected to two Perpendicular
Direct Stress and
σ
a Simple Shear
y
τ

σn τ
σx σx
σt
τ ϴ

τ σy

Let σx and σy be the two direct stresses and shear

stress τ, where major tensile stress be σx. It is
required to find the normal and tangential
stress on the plane inclined at an angle of ϴ
©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering
 Construction Procedure
• Draw the x-axis and y-axis meeting at point O
• From O, draw OA = σx and OB = σy. If both are tensile, both are taken on
the positive side of O along x-axis and one is compressive, it is taken on
the negative side O along x-axis only.
• For shear stress, sign convention used is to be stated,
anticlockwise shear stress is taken as Positive and drawn as
perpendicular line, above the x-axis, AE
clockwise shear stress is taken as Negative and Positive and drawn as
perpendicular line, below the x-axis, BF
• Bisect EF at C, and with C as the centre and CE or CF as the radius , Draw
a circle. This is your new Mohr’s Circle.
• Through C draw CP making an angle 2ϴ - along positive direction, if
angle ϴ is acting anti clockwise, from either σx or σy.
• From P, drop perpendicular PQ on AB, giving you the tangential stress,
and OQ = normal stress, and OP = Resultant stress.
• Angle POQ is the angle of obliquity of the resultant stress.
©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering
 Points to Remember
• Before starting the Problem, decide a SCALE. 1mm = 10N/mm2 (as you
are drawing Stresses here )
• Shear Stress creating anticlockwise moment is POSITIVE and drawn as
perpendicular line above x-axis and viceversa
• Maximum Principal Stress = max. distance from O to right end of the
circle’s circumference on the x-axis
• Min Principal Stress = min distance from O to starting point of the
circumference of circle on x-axis.
• Max Shear Stress is the radius of circle along Y-axis τmax
• While finding out the Principal stress, Normal Stress, Tangential Stress
and resultant stress do not forget to multiply with the scale value

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering
 ASSIGNMENT
• Draw the Mohr’s Circle of the stress element shown below. Determine the
principle stresses and the maximum shear stresses.

• A plane element of a body is subjected to a compressive stress of 300 MPa in

x-x direction and a tensile stress of 200 MPa in the y-y direction. Each of the
above stresses is subjected to a shear stress of 100 MPa such that when it is
associated with the compressive stress, it tends to rotate the element in an
anticlockwise direction. Find graphically, or otherwise, the normal and shear
stresses on a plane inclined at an angle of 30° with the x-x axis.

©Rituparna Biswas, Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering