Mechanics of Materials I:

Fundamentals of Stress & Strain and Axial Loading

Dr. Wayne Whiteman
Senior Academic Professional and Director of the Office of Student Services
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Module 21 Learning Outcome
• Find the Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress
Stresses on Inclined Planes for Plane Stress in general

x  y x  y
n   cos 2   xy sin 2
2 2
 x  y 
 nt     sin 2   xy cos 2
 2 

For any plane at an angle θ, we can find  n and  nt

For all structural and machine design, it is necessary

to know at what planes and angles θ that the maximum
values for  n and  nt occur

First, let’s find the angle(s) where the maximum shear

stress,  nt , occurs

How should we proceed?

Stresses on Inclined Planes for Plane Stress in general

 x  y 
 nt     sin 2   xy cos 2
 2 

d  nt
0    x
 y
 cos 2  2 xy
sin 2
d

x  y
tan 2 S  
2 xy

Where S is the angle(s) where maximum stress occurs

 Stresses on Inclined Planes for Plane Stress in general

 x  y 
 nt     sin 2   xy cos 2
 2  tan 
 360  270   180   90  90  180  270  360 

x  y
tan 2 S  
2 xy 0

Where  is the angle(s) where
S
Recall maximum stress occurs

2 xy
tan 2 P  Where  P is the angle(s) to what
x  y are defined as the “Principal
Planes”

tan 2 S is the negative reciprical of tan 2 P

Therefore 2 S and 2 P are 90° apart

Therefore  S and P are 45° apart

The planes on which the maximum in-plane shear

stresses occur are 45° from the Principal Planes
Find Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress

 x  y 
 nt     sin 2   xy cos 2
 2 

Similar to before, substituting

the angle functions for:
x  y
tan 2 S  
2 xy
Yields
2
 x  
 nt       xy
y 2

 2 

2
 x  
 MAX      xy2
y
 
 2 
 Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress

2
 x  
 MAX      xy2
y
 
 2 
Recall Principal Stresses
2
x   x  
 1, 2       xy2
y y
 
2  2 
 MAX
2
x  
 1   2  2     xy
y 2

 2 

1  2 
 MAX   
 2 

The maximum in-plane shear stress equals ½ the

difference of the two in-plane principal stresses
Worksheet:
For the stress block shown:
Find:
a) The principal stresses
b) The maximum in-plane shear stress

(C)

(T)
Worksheet Solution:
For the stress block shown:
Find:
a) The principal stresses
b) The maximum in-plane shear stress

 2000    2800  
2

     1000 2
 2 

2600

 1  2200 psi T   2  3000 psi C 

 2200    3000  
  2600 psi
 2 