Chapter 5

Principal stresses

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 Introduction
One of the most important objectives of the
stress analysis is to determine the plane on
which most severe conditions of stress and
strain exists.
The identification of these maximum stresses
is an essential step in the design process.
Here we study the stresses caused on planes
inclined to the line of action of applied loads.

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• We have already studied in detail the direct
tensile and compressive stress as well as
simple shear.
• In this we consider the stress in a plane which
is at right angles to the line of action of
force(tensile or compressive).

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• But the majority of engineering, component
and structures are subjected to such loading
conditions or sometimes are of such shapes
that there exists a complex state of stresses
involving direct tensile, compressive as well as
shear stresses in various directions.
• Here we study the nature and intensity of
stresses on planes at angles other than right
angles to the line of action of force.

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 PRINCIPAL PLANES
• At any point in a strained material, there are
three planes, mutually perpendicular to each
other, which carry direct stresses only and no
shear stress.
• These particular planes which have no shear
stress are known as principal planes.

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 PRINCIPAL STRESS
• The magnitude of direct stress across the
principal plane is known as principal stress

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Methods for the stresses on an oblique
section of a body
The two methods are:
• Analytical method
• Graphical method

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 Analytical method
• A member subjected to direct stress in one plane
• A member subjected to like direct stress in two
mutually perpendicular directions

• Sign conventions:
• All the tensile stresses and strains are taken as positive
whereas all the compressive stresses and strains are
taken as negative.
• The shear stress which tends to rotate the element in the
clockwise direction is taken as positive and
anticlockwise as negative

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1.A member subjected to a direct stress in one
plane.
• Fig 1. shows a rectangular member of uniform
cross sectional area A and of unit thickness.
Let,P = axial force acting on the member

• The stress along x axis,

• Hence the member is subjected to a stress along x

axis.

• Consider a cross section EF perpendicular to the

line of action of the force P.
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Area of section ,EF = EF x 1 = A
Stress on EF , = Force / Area of EF = P/A
Consider a section FG at an angle with the normal cross section
EF as shown in fig
Area of section FG = FG x 1 (unit thickness)

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Stress on FG parallel to axis of member may be resolved in two component,normal to
FG and tangential to FG.

Normal and tangential stress on FG are obtained as given below

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2.A member subjected to like direct
stresses in two mutually perpendicular
directions.

Consider a rectangular bar ABCD of uniform cross

sectional area A and of unit thickness.
Bar is subjected to two direct tensile stresses as in fig

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Two forces P1 and P2 can be resolved in two components i.e(P1) one
normal to plane FC and other (P2) along the plane FC
Let,

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A member subjected to a simple shear stress
Fig shows a rectangular bar ABCD of uniform cross sectional area A and of
unit thickness.
Bar is subjected to a simple shear stress q across faces BC and AD.
Let FC be oblique section on which normal and tangential stresses are
calculated.

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• Complimentary shear stresses act on AD and
BC
• These stresses converted to equivalent forces
• These forces will be resolved along the
inclined surface and normal to inclined surface
• Consider the forces in the wedge FBC of fig.

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A member subjected to direct stresses in two
mutually perpendicular directions accompanied by
simple shear stress
Fig shows a rectangular bar ABCD of uniform cross sectional area A and of unit
thickness
Bar is subjected to:

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