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 33 Learning Outcome
• For a given set of plane strain conditions at a
point, determine the Principal Strains, Principle
Planes, and Maximum Shear Strain using
Mohr’s Circle
 Plane Strain
Plane Strain
Mohr’s Circle
Graphical tool for the depiction of the
transformation equations for plane stress
 y    xy  x y    xy 
2 2 2 2
 z   xz   zx   yz   zy  0 
  n  x     0       
   2   2   
In general,  x ,  y , and  xy   yx
2 2
  x   y    xy 
2 2
are known or can be found
Radius =     
 2   2 
x y 
Center:  ,0    AVG ,0
 2 

The angle on Mohr’s circle is 2 times the stress block angle

Mohr’s circle is a circle where each point

represents the stress  and  / 2 on a
particular plane through a single point
Find:
 n ,  nt for any angle 
 Plane Strain
Mohr’s Circle
Graphical tool for the depiction of the
transformation equations for plane stress
 y    xy  x y    xy 
2 2 2 2

  n  x     0       
 2   2   2   2 
  x   y    xy 
2 2

Radius =     
Mohr’s Circle
 2   2  Sign Convention
x y 
Center:  ,0    AVG ,0 Normal Shear
 2  (+ )

The angle on Mohr’s circle is 2 times the stress block angle (-) (-)

Mohr’s circle is a circle where each point (+ )

represents the stress  and  / 2 on a (+ ) Tension Clockwise (+ )
particular plane through a single point ( - ) Compression Counterclockwise ( - )
Example   y    xy
2
 x y
2
   xy
2

2

The measured strain components at a point in a   n  x     0       

body under a state of plane strain are shown.  2   2   2   2 
Using Mohr’s circle, find:
  x   y    xy 
2 2
a) The principal strains and the maximum Radius =     
shear strain at that point, and find the  2   2 
orientation of the principal planes
b) The normal and shear strains on plane AA
x y 
,0    AVG ,0
 /2 Center: 
oriented as shown.
 2 


 Do by hand   y    xy
2
 x y
2
   xy
2

2

The measured strain components at a point in a   n  x     0       

on previous  2   2   2   2 
body under a state of plane strain are shown.
Using Mohr’s circle, find: page
  x   y    xy 
2 2
a) The principal strains and the maximum Radius =     
shear strain at that point, and find the  2   2 
orientation of the principal planes
b) The normal and shear strains on plane AA
x y 
,0    AVG ,0
 /2 Center: 
oriented as shown.
 2 