POISSON EFFECT

It is common experience that a material such as rubber

suffers a reduction in cross-sectional area when stretched.
This effect, known as the Poisson effect, also occurs in
structural materials subjected to tensile and compressive
loads.
In the domain where the stress–strain curve of a material
is linear, the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain is
a constant which is known as Poisson’s ratio and is given
the symbol ν.

y z -= y / x
= z / x
x=x /E,
x
y=-x /E,
z=-x /E,
εx total = εx due to σx + εx due to σy

εx = σx /E - νσy/E
εx = (σx - νσy) / E

εy total = εy due to σy + εy due to σx

εy =σy /E −νσx /E
εy = (σy - νσx) / E

εz = −νσy /E−νσx /E
εz = -ν (σy + σx) / E
 εx total = εx due to σx + εx due to σy + εx due to σz
εx = σx /E −νσy /E −νσz /E
εy = σy /E −νσx /E −νσz /E
εz = σz /E −νσx /E −νσy /E

Suppose now that the cube of material in Fig. is subjected to a

uniform stress on each face such that σx =σy =σz = σ. Then

volumetric strain = εV =(εx+ εy + εz)=3σ (1 − 2ν)/E

0< ν <1/2 , 0 (cork),  1/6 (concrete) 1/3 (metals), 1/2 (rubber)
 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE ELASTIC CONSTANTS

E, G, K & ν

1. Shear modulus or rigidity modulus, G

In Fig. (a), ABCD is a square element of material of unit thickness and

is in equilibrium under a shear and complementary shear stress system
τ
Imagine now that the element is ‘cut’ along the diagonal AC as
shown in Fig. (b). In order to maintain the equilibrium of the
triangular portion ABC it is possible that a direct force and a shear
force are required on the face AC. These forces, if they exist, will
be distributed over the face of the element in the form of direct
and shear stress systems, respectively. Since the element is small,
these stresses may be assumed to be constant along the face AC.
Let the direct stress on AC in the direction BD be σBD and the
shear stress on AC be τAC. Then resolving forces on the element in
the direction BD
 But sin 45=cos 45

The positive sign indicates that σBD is a tensile stress.

Similarly, resolving forces in the direction AC

A similar analysis of the triangular element

ABD in Fig. (c) shows that

&
 Hence we see that on planes parallel
to the diagonals of the element there
are direct stresses σBD (tensile) and
σAC (compressive) both numerically
equal to τ as shown in Fig.

Note that the compressive stress σAC makes a positive contribution

to the strain εBD.
shear strain under pure
shear, is only a change of
shape. Thus the element
ABCD distorts into the
shape A'B'CD shown in Fig.
The shear strain γ produced
by the shear stress τ is then

since Ø is a small angle. The increase in length of the diagonal

DB to DB/ is approximately equal to FB/ where BF is
perpendicular to DB/. Thus
Again, since Ø is a small angle,

&

BUT
2. Volume modulus or bulk modulus, K

BUT

BY Substitution

Eliminating E
EXAMPLE 7.4 A cube of material is subjected to a comp. stress
σ on each of its faces. If ν =0.3 and E=200 000N/mm2, calculate
the value of this stress if the volume of the cube is reduced by
0.1%. Calculate also the percentage reduction in length of one of
the sides.
Solution
From: K= / V = E/3 (1 - 2), the value of K is:
K=200 000/3(1 − 2 × 0.3)= 167 000N/mm2
The volumetric strain, εV, is 0.001, so the comp. stress is
σ = 0.001 × 167 000 = 167 N/mm2
V in a cube subjected to a uniform stress on all six faces is three
times the linear strain,  . Thus:  =0.001/3 = 0.000 33

Note please that:    /E !!!