ME2325 - Strength of Materials

Tutorial 12 – Theories of Failure

1. A thin-walled tube is fabricated of a brittle material having tensile and compressive

strength 𝜎𝑇𝑆 = 300 MPa and 𝜎𝐶𝑆 = 600 MPa respectively. The internal radius and
thickness of the tube are 𝑟 = 100 mm and 𝑡 = 5 mm. Using Coulomb's criterion
calculate the limiting torque that can be applied without causing failure.

2. A circular shaft of tensile strength 𝜎𝑦 = 350 MPa is subjected to a combined state of

loading defined by bending moment 𝑀 = 8 kNm and torque 𝑇 = 24 kNm (see Figure
1). Calculate the required shaft diameter 𝑑 in order to achieve a factor of safety 𝑆𝐹 = 2.
Use von Mises failure criterion.

Figure 1

3. A cylindrical end-capped thin-walled pressure vessel has an internal diameter of 280

mm and it is expected to work at an internal pressure of 13 MPa. The material from
which the vessel is to be made has a uniaxial yield stress in tension of 𝜎𝑦 = 420 MPa.
Determine the wall thickness of the vessel far away from the ends assuming a factor of
safety 𝑆𝐹 = 3 and that the material yields according to

(i) von Mises criterion and

(ii) Tresca criterion.

4. A cast-iron cylinder of 60 mm internal diameter and 2 mm wall thickness is to be used

to check the Coulomb's criterion. The tensile and compressive strengths of the material
are 400 MPa and 1200 MPa, respectively. Determine

(i) the internal pressure to cause failure when the cylinder is subjected to an increasing
magnitude of internal pressure, and
(ii) the axial compressive load to cause failure when combined with an internal pressure
of 20 MPa.

Dr. Madhava Solanga Arachchi 1

 5. A torsion-bar spring made of ASTM grade A-48 cast iron is loaded as shown in Figure
2. Determine the diameter d to resist loads 𝑃 = 25 N and 𝑇 = 10 N m, using a factor
of safety 𝑆𝐹 = 2.5. Ignore any stress concentrations, ignore shear stress due to the
applied load 𝑃, use von Mises failure criterion, and take the yield strength of the
material as 𝜎𝑦 = 200 MPa.

𝑇 𝑇

Figure 2

Dr. Madhava Solanga Arachchi 2