Mohr’s Circle in 3-D

Starting with 2-D

MAE 322
Stress Elements
Rotate Coordinates for Stress
We can find 2-D Principal Stresses
and Max Shear Stress
Typical Mohr’s Circle
Finding 2-D Principal Stresses
Let’ use numbers as an example 2D

τmax= (σ1-σ2)/2
1 Mohr Circle for each of the 3
Orthogonal Planes
Now think of 3 Orthogonal 2-D
Planes for 3-D

τmax= (σ1-σ3)/2
3-D Plane Stress Example, 3 Planes
Rotating 3 times, from any 3-D stress
state we can get 3-Principal Stresses
Mathematically this is an Eigenvalue
Problem to get 3-Principal Stresses
2-D Plane Stress is Always
a 3-D Stress State: σ3=0
Back to Maximum Shear Stress
Failure Theory
• For any stress element, use Mohr’s circle to find the
maximum shear stress. Compare the maximum shear
stress to Sy/2.
• Ordering the principal stresses such that s1 ≥ s2 ≥ s3,

Sy / 2
n
 max
Case 1: Mohr’s Circle σ1> σ2 >σ3=0
Case 2: Mohr’s Circle σ1> 0 >σ2 >σ3
Case 3: Mohr’s Circle σ1= 0 >σ2 >σ3