PLANE ELECTRICITY THEORY

For 3-dimensional elasticity problems, there are 15 unknowns which must be determined at every point in the
body, these unknown quantities are

 6 Cartesian components of stress

 6 Cartesian components of strain
 3 components of displacements.

We can attempt to determine these unknowns if we know

 The geometry of the body

 The boundary conditions
 The body forces

Elastic properties

Using 15 independent equations

 3 stress equation of equilibrium (∑ FX = ∑ FY = ∑ FZ = 0)

(From ∑ Mx = 0 we already found τYZ = τZY ……. reduced Cartesian components into 6)

 6 Strain-displacement relations
 6 stress-strain expression

Reducing # of equations and determining displacement first

∂U
 = ϵxx ,
∂x

also,
1
ϵxx = E
[ ϭxx − ѵ ( ϭyy + ϭzz ) ] ,

Similarly,

Combining strain-displacement and stress-strain relationships

We can obtain, 𝜕𝑢 1
= [ ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ ( ϭ𝑦𝑦 + ϭ𝑧𝑧 ) ]
𝜕𝑥 𝐸
𝜕𝑣 1
= [ ϭ𝑦𝑦 − ѵ ( ϭ𝑧𝑧 + ϭ𝑥𝑥 ) ]
𝜕𝑦 𝐸

𝜕𝑤 1
= [ ϭ𝑧𝑧 − ѵ ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) ]
𝜕𝑧 𝐸

𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑤 1 𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢 1
+ = τ ; + = τ ; + = τ
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝐺 xy 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦 𝐺 yz 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝐺 zx
By solving eq. A with stress equilibrium eq. B

𝜕ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕τyx 𝜕τzx

+ + + 𝐹𝑥 = 0 ;
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕τxy 𝜕ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕τzy
+ + + 𝐹𝑦 = 0 ;
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕τxz 𝜕τyz 𝜕ϭ𝑧𝑧
+ + + 𝐹𝑧 = 0 ;
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
We can obtain

1 𝜕 𝜕u 𝜕v 𝜕w 𝐹𝑥
∇2 𝑢 + [ + + ]+ = 0
1 − 2𝑣 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝐺
1 𝜕 𝜕u 𝜕v 𝜕w 𝐹𝑦
∇2 𝑣 + [ + + ]+ = 0
1 − 2𝑣 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝐺
1 𝜕 𝜕u 𝜕v 𝜕w 𝐹𝑧
∇2 𝑤 + [ + + ]+ = 0
1 − 2𝑣 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝐺

Once displacements are known, we can determine 6 - stress and 6 – strain components. (Recall concept from FEA)

Main problem:
 These equations cannot be solved analytically. We solve it numerically to find approximate solutions.
 Any analysis software uses these equations and determines displacement values.
 Therefore, the analytical solution of 3D elasticity problems is quite difficult to obtain, and the number of
problems that have been seen solved in an exact fashion to date is surprisingly small.
 Plane problems (equivalent 2D problems) can be solved more readily than the general 3D problems. Since
certain simplifying assumptions can be made in their treatment.
Plane Elastic Problem:
To be classified as a plane elastic problem, the problem must have the following characteristics.

Geometry:
A plane body consists of a region of uniform thickness bounded by two parallel planes. According to geometry,

1. If the thickness ‘t’ is small as compared to dimensions in parallel planes, the problem is classified as plane
stress problem.
2. If the thickness is large compared to the dimensions in the parallel planes, the problem is classified as plane
strain problem.

Loading:
Applied surface load and/or body forces must be non-varying in the direction and cannot have components in the
2D directions. The applied load cannot exist on the top and bottom surfaces.

t
Tx Ty

Example

Plane stress Plane strain

y
y z
z
x
x
Plane stress:
Example; A vertical beam having a thickness ≪ the dimensions in x and y.

The assumption for the plane stress problem is that the stresses in the z-direction are zero on the parallel surfaces
and t is very small, the stresses in the z-direction cannot grow to any applicable values. Thus, for plane stress;

ϭ𝑧𝑧 = τyz = τzx = 0

Therefore the stress equilibrium equation would become

1 1 2 (1 + ѵ )
𝜖𝑥𝑥 = [ ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ ϭ𝑦𝑦 ] , 𝜖𝑦𝑦 = [ ϭ𝑦𝑦 − ѵ ϭ𝑥𝑥 ] , 𝛾𝑥𝑦 = τxy
𝐸 𝐸 𝐸

The compatibility equation of interest is

𝜕 2 𝜖𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜖𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝛾𝑥𝑦

+ =
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕 2 τxy
( ϭ − ѵ ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) + ( ϭ − ѵ ϭ𝑥𝑥 ) = 2 ( 1 + ѵ )
𝜕𝑦 2 𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

From the condition of equilibrium

𝜕 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕τxy
+ + 𝐹𝑥 = 0 1
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕τxy 𝜕 ϭ𝑦𝑦
+ + 𝐹𝑦 = 0 2
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Differential eq. 1 w.r.t “x” and eq. 2 by “y”

𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 τxy 𝜕𝐹𝑥 𝜕τxy 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝐹𝑦

+ + = 0 ; + + = 0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦

Adding we have

𝜕 2 τxy 1 𝜕𝐹𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝐹𝑦

= − ( + + + )
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦

Placing the above value in the earlier equation.

𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝐹𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝐹𝑦

− ѵ + − ѵ = − ( 1 + ѵ ) ( + + + )
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦

𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝐹𝑥 𝜕𝐹𝑦

2
+ 2
+ 2
+ 2
= −(1+ ѵ) ( + )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
 𝜕𝐹𝑥 𝜕𝐹𝑦
∇2 ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) = − ( 1 + ѵ ) ( + )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

In case of plane stress, this is the stress compatibility equation, which is needed to satisfy for such type of
problems
𝜕2 𝜕2
∇2 is + and is called Laplacian operator.
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Plain Strain approach:

(Object is 3D but considering strain as a function of x and y only)

For the plane strain problem, ‘t’ is large. In this state, the strain in the z-direction is small and for limiting case.

𝜖𝑧𝑧 = 𝛾𝑦𝑧 = 𝛾𝑧𝑥 = 0

And strains are in the x and y directions and are not the function of z.

1
𝜖𝑥𝑥 = [ ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ ( ϭ𝑦𝑦 + ϭ𝑧𝑧 ) ] ;
𝐸
1
𝜖𝑦𝑦 = [ ϭ𝑦𝑦 − ѵ ( ϭ𝑧𝑧 + ϭ𝑥𝑥 ) ] ;
𝐸
1
𝜖𝑧𝑧 = [ ϭ𝑧𝑧 − ѵ ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) ] ;
𝐸
For plane strain problem; 𝜖𝑧𝑧 = 0

ϭ𝑧𝑧 = ѵ ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 )

1
𝜖𝑥𝑥 = ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ ϭ𝑦𝑦 − ѵ2 ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ2 ϭ𝑦𝑦 )
𝐸

(1 + ѵ2 ) ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ ( 1 + ѵ ) ϭ𝑦𝑦
=
𝐸

(1 + ѵ )
= [ (1 − ѵ ) ϭ𝑥𝑥 − ѵ ϭ𝑦𝑦 ]
𝐸

Similarly,

(1 + ѵ )
𝜖𝑦𝑦 = [ (1 − ѵ ) ϭ𝑦𝑦 − ѵ ϭ𝑥𝑥 ]
𝐸
By applying the same procedure, we will have

1 𝜕𝐹𝑥 𝜕𝐹𝑦
∇2 ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) = − ( + )
(1 − ѵ ) 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

In the case of nobody forces,

∇2 ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) = 0
Airy’s stress function:
In-plane elasticity problem, we have three unknowns ϭxx , ϭyy & τxy that must determine which will satisfy
field equations and boundary conditions.

Normally, we replace the stress by strain via Hook’s Law and then express the strain as a function of the
displacement components u & v. Finally, a system of two differential equations in two unknown u & v would
results.

Occasionally, it is, however, convenient to introduce single unknown function ф (x, y) related to unknown stress.
So, those equilibrium equations
𝜕ϭ𝑥𝑥 𝜕τyx 𝜕τxy 𝜕ϭ𝑦𝑦
+ =0 ; + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

are satisfied. Induced we assume that

𝜕2ф 𝜕2ф 𝜕2ф
ϭ𝑥𝑥 = ; τxy = − ; ϭ𝑦𝑦 =
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 2

The function ф (x, y) is called Airy’s stress function.

There may be or lot such functions that can represent the stress field satisfying these equilibrium conditions along
with boundary conditions. But, out of these, there is only one function that can satisfy the stress combability
equation for plane problems.
∇2 ( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) = 0 (For plane problems)

𝜕2 𝜕2
( 𝜕𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦 2
)( ϭ𝑥𝑥 + ϭ𝑦𝑦 ) = 0

𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2 ф 𝜕2 ф
( 𝜕𝑥 2 + 𝜕𝑦 2 ) ( 𝜕𝑦 2
+ 𝜕𝑥 2
) = 0

∇2 ∇2 ф = 0

∇4 ф = 0 (a)

This is a biharmonic equation that can also be written as

𝜕4 ф 2 𝜕4 ф 𝜕4 ф (b)
+ + = 0
𝜕𝑥 4 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 4
Problems:
i) ф = Ay 2

(Let say we know the Airy’s function)

...
∇4 ф = 0 must need to be satisfied
∇4 (Ay 2 ) = 0

Using Bi-Harmonic relation

𝜕4 (Ay2 ) 𝜕2 𝜕2 ( Ay2 ) 𝜕4 (Ay2 )
𝜕𝑥 4
+ 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2
+ 𝜕𝑦 4
= 0

0 + 0 + 0 = 0 Satisfied

means ф can able to define ϭ𝑥𝑥 , ϭ𝑦𝑦 & τxy

𝜕2 ф
ϭ𝑥𝑥 = = 2A
𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕2 ф
ϭ𝑦𝑦 = = 0
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕2 ф
τxy = − = 0
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
Uniaxial tension: A → if constant +ve

ii) ф = Bxy

using Bi-Harmonic relations

∇4 ф = 0
∇4 (Bxy) = 0
0 = 0 Satisfied

𝜕 2 ( Bxy )
ϭ𝑥𝑥 = = 0
𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕 2 ( Bxy )
ϭ𝑦𝑦 = = 0
𝜕𝑥 2

𝜕 2 ( Bxy )
τxy = − = −𝐵 Pure shear stress problem
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦
iii) ф = Ay 2 + Bxy

using Bi-Harmonic relations

∇4 ф = 0
∇4 (Ay 2 + Bxy) = 0
0 = 0 Satisfied

𝜕2 ( ф )
ϭ𝑦𝑦 = = 0
𝜕𝑥 2
ϭ𝑥𝑥 = 2𝐴
τxy = − B Uniaxial + Pure shear stress state
Problems:
y

R h/2 R

h/2 x

L/2 L/2

Depth = 1 unit

Unit may be mm or inch