MECG1019 Handout

Drawing Mohr’s Circle and Useful Notes

MECG1019, I-2019 C.G. Helguero

A planar stress element is shown in Figure 1. In the stress element,

the normal stresses σx and σy are along the x and y directions shown,
with the shear stresses denoted as τxy which has directions illustrated
in the figure. For the specification of normal and shear stresses, the
following convention will be followed. Normal stresses are positive
when they are tensile and negative when they are compressive. The
shear stresses are positive if consistent with the directions of τxy on
the right face with σx in Figure 1; otherwise they are negative. In
addition, when the shear stress, τxy , is plotted on the Mohr’s circle,
the following convention is employed:

• shear stress which tends to rotate the element, shown in Fig-

ure 1, clockwise (cw) are plotted above the σ axis

• shear stress which tends to rotate the element counterclockwise Figure 1: Stress element showing
(ccw) are plotted below the σ axis different components of stresses.

For example, the shear stress τxy on the top face of the element in Figure 1 tends to rotate the element cw
so it will be plotted above the σ axis. On the other hand, τxy along the right face of the element in Figure 1
tends to rotate the element ccw so it will be plotted below the σ axis.

Draw Mohr’s Circle Graphically:

For given stresses, follow the four steps to draw the Mohr’s circle:

1. Draw the σ (horizontal) and τ (vertical) axes.

2. Locate the first point (point A) on the σ-τ plane with the coordinates being (σx , τxy ). Follow the
convention for shear τxy outlined above, regardless of the sign of τxy .

3. Locate the second point (point B) on the σ-τ plane with the coordinates being (σy , τxy ). Follow the
convention for shear outlined above. Note that point B is always on the opposite side of point A with
respect to the σ axis.

4. Connect line AB, which is the diameter of the Mohr’s circle, to intersect the σ axis. The intersection
is the center of the Mohr’s circle, C. The segment AB is the diameter of the circle.

The Mohr’s circle is illustrated in Figure 2. The principal stresses are the two intersections of the Mohr’s
circle with the σ axis, as labeled in Figure 2 at σ1 and σ2 at points D and E. The angle from the x axis to

1
 Figure 2: Mohr’s circle

the axis of the maximum principal stress, σ1 , is φp . The angle 2φp shown in Figure 2 is measured from the
x-axis (or point A) towards the positive σ axis. Once it is identified, the angle can be obtained on the Mohr’s
circle. The stress element and rotation of principal axes from x can then be determined.

Obtain Parameters of Mohr’s Circle Using Analytical Equations:

First of all, when the analytical equations are used, with the shear τxy and the normal stress σx , it is realized
that a ccw τxy is taken as positive and a cw τxy is taken as negative, as illustrated in Figure 1. With this sign
convention of τxy when using the analytical equations, the following analytical equations can be employed
to determine the parameters of the Mohr’s circle.

The equation of the Mohr’s circle is given by

s 2
  2  2
σx + σy σx − σy
σ− + τ2 =  2 
+ τxy (1)
2 2

2
Based on equation (1), the center and radius of the Mohr’s circle can be obtained
 
σx + σy
center : , 0 (2)
2
s
σx − σy 2
  
2
σ1 − σ2
radius : + τxy = (3)
2 2

where σ1 and σ2 are the principal stresses, and can be found using the following equations
s
σx − σy 2

σx + σy 2
σ1 , σ2 = ± + τxy (4)
2 2

The angle from x axis to the principal axis (the maximum, σ1 ) is φp and is given by equation (5) in the
textbook, as follows.  
2τxy 1 2τxy
tan 2φp = or φp = atan (5)
σx − σy 2 σx − σy
However, the atan function in equation (5) is ambiguous since it is only defined in the first and fourth
quadrants. Therefore, I suggest that you use the following equation, with the atan2(y, x) function, when
determining φp to render the correct angle defined in all four quadrants.
 
1 σx − σy
φp = atan2 τxy , (6)
2 2

Note that the atan2(y, x) function takes two arguments, y and x. Likewise, the angle to the maximum
shear is given by  
1 σx − σy
φs = atan2 , −τxy (7)
2 2
The stress elements can be plotted with respect to the x axis once the angles are calculated.

Remarks:
• If the shear τxy is given in orientation (ccw) that is consistent with that in the right face of Figure 1,
the τxy will take a positive value when using the analytical equations.

• The angle to the principal axis (the maximum σ1 ) is measured from (σx , τxy ) towards the positive σ
axis on the Mohr’s circle. The sense of this angle will determine the orientation of the principal axis
of the stress element from x.

• It is recommended that the atan2(y, x) function be used instead of the atan function to avoid the
ambiguity of angles in the four quadrants.

• Equations (6) and (7) give two angles, each being 90◦ apart from the other.

• The element of maximum shear has the same normal stress on all sides (see the Mohr’s circle in
Figure 2). Thus, φs ± π2 is also an answer in equation (7).

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Students should review Example 4-4 in the textbook for both graphical and analytical results. Here, an
alternative example will be discussed.

Given: The stress components are: σx = 8, σy = 24, τxy = 6CW , where the unit is in M P a.

Solution: We will illustrate with an example, both graphically and analytically.

Graphical Approach: Follow the four steps outlined in the handout.

1. Draw and label the σ and τ axes.

2. Point A is located at (8, 6CW ) MPa. Note: τxy = 6CW renders the (σx , τxy ) point above the σ-axis
because τxy is cw.

3. Point B is located at (24, −6) MPa. Note that point B with σy is drawn on the opposite side of point
A.

Connect AB and find the intersection with σ axis at (16, 0). The radius of the Mohr’s circle is R =
4. √
62 + 82 = 10 M P a.

The Mohr’s circle is drawn in Figure 3(a) using the data obtained. Based on the drawing, the angles are
found to be
  
1 6
φp = π − atan = 71.6◦ (cw)
2 8
 
1 8
φs = atan = 26.6◦ (cw)
2 6

As can be seen from the Mohr’s circle drawn in Figure 3(a), both angles are in the ccw direction from the
x axis towards the respective principal axis (σ1 or τ1 ). The orientation of the stress element of the principal
axis with respect to the x axis are plotted in Figure 3(b).

Analytical Approach: The preceding equations can be employed to find the parameters and compare them
with the graphical results of the Mohr’s circle obtained earlier. We note, however, that τxy = −6MPa based
on the convention in Figure 1, and will be used in the following calculation. Thus, we have

σx = 8, σy = 24, τxy = −6

The unit is in MPa. Equations (2) to (4) are employed to render

center : (16, 0)
s 
16 2
Radius : + (−6)2 = 10 M P a
2
σ1 = 16 + 10 = 26 M P a; σ2 = 16 − 10 = 6 M P a

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 τ
y
x τ1 (16,10)
σ2
2φs x
(8,6) A
2φp
φp= −71.6ο
C (16,0) σ1 (26,0)
σ σ1
σ2 (6,0) y
σ
B (24,−6)
τ1 x
τ2 (16,−10) φs=−26.6ο

(a) Mohr’s circle (b) angles to principal axis

Figure 3: Example of Mohr’s circle

σx −σy
The angles are given by equations (6) and (7), with 2 = −8 and τxy = −6:

1
φp = atan2(−6, −8) = −71.6◦
2
1
φs = atan2(−8, 6) = −26.6◦
2
The angle φs also assumes value of 63.6◦ . Both angles φp and φs are negative and thus turn ccw direction
from the x axis1 . This is consistent with the graphical solution. Note that in the analytical approach, there
is no reference to the drawn Mohr’s circle. This makes it important to employ the atan2 function so that
the angles can be determined correctly.

1
According to the right-hand rule, the positive angle is cw (swing from +x towards +y), and negative angle is ccw.