SEC. 2.

2] Stress and Strain: Important Relationships 15

the x, y, and z directions respectively. Thus, the new length in any

direction is equal to its original length plus the rate of increase
(normal strain) times its original length. That is,

Dx0 ¼ Dx þ ex Dx; Dy0 ¼ Dy þ ey Dy; Dz0 ¼ Dz þ ez Dz ð2:2-1Þ

There is a direct relationship between strain and stress. Hooke’s law

for a linear, homogeneous, isotropic material is simply that the normal
strain is directly proportional to the normal stress, and is given by

1
ex ¼ ½s
nðsy þ sz Þ ð2:2-2aÞ
E x
1
ey ¼ ½sy
nðsz þ sx Þ ð2:2-2bÞ
E
1
ez ¼ ½sz
nðsx þ sy Þ ð2:2-2cÞ
E

where the material constants, E and n, are the modulus of elasticity

(also referred to as Young’s modulus) and Poisson’s ratio, respectively.
Typical values of E and n for some materials are given in Table 2.1 at
the end of this chapter.
If the strains in Eqs. (2.2-2) are known, the stresses can be solved for
simultaneously to obtain

E
sx ¼ ½ð1
nÞex þ nðey þ ez Þ ð2:2-3aÞ
ð1 þ nÞð1
2nÞ
E
sy ¼ ½ð1
nÞey þ nðez þ ex Þ ð2:2-3bÞ
ð1 þ nÞð1
2nÞ
E
sz ¼ ½ð1
nÞez þ nðex þ ey Þ ð2:2-3cÞ
ð1 þ nÞð1
2nÞ

For plane stress, with sz ¼ 0, Eqs. (2.2-2) and (2.2-3) become

1
ex ¼ ðs
nsy Þ ð2:2-4aÞ
E x
1
ey ¼ ðsy
nsx Þ ð2:2-4bÞ
E
n
ez ¼
ðsx þ sy Þ ð2:2-4cÞ
E