ES128: Homework 3

Solutions

Problem 1
Derive the equilibrium equations and the relations between strains
( ε rr , ε θθ , ε zz , ε rθ , ε rz , ε θz ) and displacements in cylindrical coordinates with
x1 = r cosθ , x 2 = r sin θ , and x 3 = z .

Solution
E
(4) z
A (3)
(5) θ
(1) B r
F
H (2)
dz
D
dθ
C (6)
dr G
r

Fig 1

Fig. 1 shows an element ABCDEFGH of with 6 surfaces. In surface (1) (surface

ABCD), the stresses in r, θ , and z directions are
∂σ dr
σ r(1 ) = σ r − r ,
∂r 2
∂σ dr
σ r(θ1 ) = σ rθ − rθ ,
∂r 2
∂σ dr
σ rz(1 ) = σ rz − rz .
∂r 2
On surface (2) (surface BCFG), the stresses in θ , r, and z directions are
∂σ dθ
σ θ( 2 ) = σ θ − θ ,
∂θ 2
∂σ dθ
σ θ(r2 ) = σ θr − θr ,
∂θ 2
∂σ dθ
σ θ(z2 ) = σ θz − θz .
∂θ 2
On surface (3) (surface EFGH), the stresses in r, θ , and z directions are
 ∂σ r dr
σ r( 3) = σ r + ,
∂r 2
∂σ dr
σ r(θ3) = σ rθ + rθ ,
∂r 2
∂σ dr
σ rz( 3) = σ rz + rz .
∂r 2
On surface (4) (surface AEHD), the stresses in θ , r, and z directions are
∂σ dθ
σ θ( 4 ) = σ θ + θ ,
∂θ 2
∂σ dθ
σ θ(r4 ) = σ θr + θr ,
∂θ 2
∂σ dθ
σ θ(z4 ) = σ θz + θz .
∂θ 2
On surface (5) (surface AEFB), the stresses in z, r, and θ directions are
∂σ dz
σ z( 5 ) = σ z + z ,
∂z 2
∂σ dz
σ zr( 5 ) = σ zr + zr ,
∂z 2
∂σ dz
σ z(θ5 ) = σ zθ + zr .
∂z 2
On surface (6) (surface DHGC), the stresses in z, r, and θ directions are
∂σ dz
σ z( 6) = σ z − z ,
∂z 2
∂σ dz
σ zr( 6) = σ zr − zr ,
∂z 2
∂σ dz
σ z(θ6) = σ zθ − zr .
∂z 2
The conditions that the momentums are zero yield that
σ rθ = σ θr ; σ θz = σ zθ ; σ ra = σ zr .
In the r direction, the resultant force is zero. Thus

 ∂σ r dr   dr   ∂σ dr   dr 
σ r + dz  r + dθ −  σ r − r dz  r − dθ
 ∂r 2   2   ∂r 2   2 
 ∂σ dθ  θ   ∂σ dθ  θ 
+  σ θr + θr dzdr cos  −  σ θr − θr dzdr cos 
 ∂θ 2  2  ∂θ 2  2
 ∂σ dθ  θ   ∂σ dθ  θ 
− σ θ + θ dzdr sin  −  σ θ − θ dzdr sin  
 ∂θ 2  2  ∂θ 2  2
 ∂σ zr dz   ∂σ zr dz 
+  σ zr + rdθdr −  σ zr − rdθdr =0.
 ∂z 2   ∂z 2 
Since sin (θ / 2 ) ≈ θ / 2 and cos(θ / 2 ) ≈ 1 , we obtain
∂σ r 1 ∂σ θr ∂σ zr σ r − σ θ
+ + + =0.
∂r r ∂θ ∂z r
Similarly, the condition that the resultant force is zero in the θ direction gives
∂σ rθ 1 ∂σ θ ∂σ zθ 2σ rθ
+ + + = 0.
∂r r ∂θ ∂z r
The condition that the resultant force is zero in the z direction gives
∂σ rz 1 ∂σ θz ∂σ z σ rz
+ + + =0.
∂r r ∂θ ∂z r

Next, let us analyze the relations between strains and displacements in cylindrical
coordinates
Problem 2
Elastic bulk modulus B is defined as the stiffness under hydrostatic pressure,
namely,
∆V
p = −B
V
Here ∆V / V is the volumetric strain caused by the hydrostatic pressure p.
(a) Show that the volumetric strain ∆V / V relates to the axial strains as
∆V
= ε xx + ε yy + ε zz .
V
(b) Express the bulk modulus B in terms of Young’s modulus and
Poisson’s ratio.
(c) What is the value of Poisson’s ratio when the material is
incompressible? Interpret your result under uniaxial stress state.
(d) Show that Poisson’s ratio must be smaller than ½. What would
happen if Poisson’s ratio were greater than ½?

Solution
(a) Assume that the original dimensions are X Y Z in x, y, and z directions,
respectively. After deformation, the current dimensions are X+ ∆ X, Y+ ∆ Y, and
Z+ ∆ Z, respectively. The volumetric strain
∆V ( X + ∆X )(Y + ∆Y )( Z + ∆Z ) − XYZ
= ,
V XYZ
where ∆ X, ∆ Y, ∆ Z are assumed to be small, compared to X, Y, Z, respectively.
We only keep the linear terms in the above equation
∆V XY∆Z + XZ∆Y + YZ∆X ∆X ∆Y ∆Z
= = + + = ε xx + ε yy + ε zz
V XYZ X Y Z
(b) With Hooke’s law ε x = (σ x − v(σ y + σ z )), ε y = (σ y − v(σ x + σ z )), and
1 1
E E
ε z = (σ z − v(σ x + σ y )), we obtain that
1
E
1 − 2v
εx +εy +εz = (σ x + σ y + σ z ) ,
E
Under hydrostatic pressure, σ x = σ y = σ z = − p , thus,
∆V 1 − 2v
= εx +εy +εz = ( −3 p ) = − p / B
V E
E
B=
3(1 − 2v)
(c) When v=0.5, the material is incompressible. For uniaxial stress state,
1 v 1 ∆V
εx = σx ; εy = εz = − σx = − σ x . Thus, = εx + εy + εz = 0.
E E 2E V
∆V 1 − 2 v
(d) Since = ( −3 p) . Thus v must be smaller than 1/2. If v is greater than
V E
1/2, with hydrostatic pressure, the volume of the body can increase.
 Problem 3
Stress concentration at geometric discontinuities is the most important practical
result in elasticity theory. For example, for a small circular hole in a large plate
under uniaxial stress S, the elasticity solution gives the hoop stress around the
hole:
σ θθ = S (1 − 2 cos 2θ )
Here the polar angle θ is measured from the loading direction. The problem is
solved in many elasticity textbooks.
a) Under uniaxial tension, indicate the highest tensile stress around the hole.
b) Under uniaxial compression, indicate the highest tensile stress around the
hole.
c) Calculate the stress concentration at the hole when the plate is under a
pure shear stress. Use the above solution and linear superposition.

Solution
(a) Under uniaxial tension, the tensile stress is the highest at θ = π / 2 ( σ θθ = 3S ).
(b) Under uniaxial compression, the tensile stress is the highest at θ = 0
( σ θθ = − S ).
(c)

Fig. 3

In Fig. 3, case 1 is exactly same as case 2 (pure shear). The reason is as follows.
Take a triangle free body from case 1 as shown if Fig.4.
A

S
S Fig. 4

B 45 o
C

S
Based on the force balance, it is easy to show that only the shear stress S is
applied on the surface AC, and the normal stress is zero. Thus case 2 can be
reduced to an easier problem of case 1. Based on linear superposition,
σ θθ = S (1 − 2 cos 2θ ) − S (1 − 2 cos 2(θ + π / 2)) = −4 S cos 2θ ,
where θ is shown in Fig.3. The tensile stress is the highest at θ = π / 2 ( σ θθ = 4S ).

Problem 4
An elastic layer is sandwiched between two perfectly rigid plates, to which it is
bonded. The layer is compressed between the plates, the direct stress being σ z .
Supposing that the attachment to the plates prevents lateral strain ε x , ε y
completely, find the apparent Young’s modulus (that is σ z / ε z ) in terns of E and v.
Show that it is many times E if the material of the layer has a Poisson’s ratio only
slightly less than 0.5, e.g., rubber.

Solution
The shear stresses vanish, but all the three axial stresses σ x , σ y , σ z are nonzero.
By symmetry, we note that
σ x =σ y
Because the elastic layer is bonded to the rigid plate, the two components of
strain vanish:
εx = εy = 0
That is, the elastic layer is in a state of uniaxial strain: ε z ≠ 0 . Using Hooke’s law,
we obtain that
0 = ε x = (σ x − vσ y − vσ z )
1
E
or
v
σx = σz
1−v
Using Hooke’s law again, we obtain that
(1 + v)(1 − 2v)
ε z = (σ z − v(σ x + σ y )) =
1
σz
E (1 − v) E
The apparent Young’s modulus
σz (1 − v) E
= .
ε z (1 + v)(1 − 2v)
When v is only slightly less than 0.5, e.g., for rubbers, the apparent Young’s
modulus is many times E.