01/02/2024

STRENGTH OF MATERIALS 6
MOHR’S CIRCLE, COMBINED SHEAR
STRESSES, & THIN-WALLED
MEMBERS

1. Mohr’s Circle is a graphical representation of the state of stress at a point in a member that is subjected
tovarioustypesofloading.
2. AradiusintheMohr’scirclerepresentsaplaneonanelement.
3. The coordinates of the point that the radius touches the circumference of the Mohr’s circle are the
stressesonthatplane.
4. TheanglebetweentworadiiintheMohr’scircleistwicetheanglebetweentheplanestheyrepresent.
𝜎 (−𝜎 , −𝜏 ) 𝝉
𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝑦 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝜏 (𝜎 , 𝜏 ) 𝜎 ,𝜏
Normal stress σ : 𝜏
Tension + 𝜎
Compression (−) θ
Shear stress τ : 𝝈
𝑥 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 2θ
𝑥 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
−𝜎 , −𝜏 𝜎, 𝜏
𝑦 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
+ −

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A rectangular bar, 25 mm × 50 mm in cross section is subjected to a tensile

force, P = 80 kN. Plane a–a makes an angle,  = 60 degrees, with the 𝑃 = 80 𝑘𝑁
longitudinal axis.

1. Determine the tensile stress (MPa) produced on plane a–a. 50 25

2. Determine the shear stress (MPa) produced on plane a–a.
3. Determine the angle 𝛼 (degrees) the plane a–a must make with the
longitudinal axis for the shear stress to be maximum.

𝑃 = 80 𝑘𝑁

𝑷 = 𝟖𝟎 𝒌𝑵 ft = P = 80,000 τ
𝑦 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 A 50 (25)
= 64 MPa σ = 48 MPa
50 25 θ = 30° 𝜎, 𝜏
60°
𝑥 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 τ = 27.71 MPa τmax = 32 MPa
ft 𝟐𝜶 2θ = 60°
σ
(0,0) 16 MPa (64,0)

𝑥 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑦 − 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

R = 32 MPa R = 32 MPa
𝑷 = 𝟖𝟎 𝒌𝑵
1. Tensile stress on plane a–a 𝝈 = 𝟒𝟖 𝑴𝑷𝒂 3. Angle 𝛼 for shear stress to be
2. Shear stress on plane a–a 𝝉 = 𝟐𝟕. 𝟕𝟏 𝑴𝑷𝒂 maximum 𝜶 = 45°

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A steel cantilever beam 1.6 m long is loaded at the free end with a 1,202 kN load as shown.
The steel section has the following properties:
bf = 300 mm tf = 16 mm
d = 600 mm tw = 12 mm
Ix = 1,002 x 10 mm4
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Describe the state of stress at point “A” in the x-y direction and
1. determine the maximum tensile stress at point “A”.
Principal stresses
2. determine the maximum compressive stress at point “A”.
3. determine the maximum in-plane shear stress (MPa) at point “A”.
𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠:
the maximum and minimum
normal stresses that are
found in the planes of zero
shear stress called principal
planes

300
16
A
134
300
150
600
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Ix = 1,002 x 106 mm4

𝑀 = −1202 1.189 = −1429.178 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
𝑉 = 1202 𝑘𝑁
𝑓𝑣 @ 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐴
𝑓 @ 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐴 𝑄 = 300𝑥16 300 − 16/2
𝑀𝑦 +(134𝑥12)(150 + 134/2)
𝑓 = 𝑄 = 1,750,536 𝑚𝑚
𝐼
𝑉𝑄 102 10 (1750536)
1429.178𝑥10 (150) 𝑓𝑣 = =
𝑓 = 𝐼𝑏 1,002𝑥10 (12)
1,002𝑥10
𝑓𝑣 = 175 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑓 = 213.95 𝑀𝑃𝑎
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𝑀
𝐴 𝐴 𝑓 = 214 𝑀𝑃𝑎

175 𝑀𝑃𝑎

214 𝑀𝑃𝑎 214 𝑀𝑃𝑎

175 𝑀𝑃𝑎

175 𝑀𝑃𝑎 τ R2 = 1072 + 1752

214 MPa R = 205 MPa
214 𝑀𝑃𝑎 214 𝑀𝑃𝑎

175 𝑀𝑃𝑎 R 175 MPa

τmax = 205 MPa
107
1. Maximum tensile stress (MPa) at
σ
point ″A″ 107
𝝈𝒕,𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟑𝟏𝟐 𝑴𝑷𝒂 -175 MPa

2. Maximum compressive stress

(MPa) at point ″A″ σmin = -98 MPa σmax = 312 MPa
𝝈𝒄,𝒎𝒂𝒙 = −𝟗𝟖 𝑴𝑷𝒂
R = 205 MPa R = 205 MPa
3. Maximum in-plane shear stress
(MPa) at point ″A″
𝝉𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎𝟓 𝑴𝑷𝒂

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A closed cylindrical tank 400 mm in diameter and made from steel plate 2.5 mm thick is
subjected to an internal pressure “p” and an axial compressive force “F” resulting to the
state of stress at a point as shown in the given Mohr’s circle.

1. Determine the internal pressure “p” (MPa).

2. Find the axial compressive force “F” (kN).
3. Find the maximum in-plane shear stress (MPa) developed in the plate of the tank.

𝑝𝐷 𝐹 τ
F − = 10 MPa 110 MPa
4𝑡 𝜋𝐷𝑡 R2 = 302 + 402
R = 50 MPa R = 50 MPa
𝑝𝐷
= 110 MPa 30 MPa
2𝑡 τmax = 50 MPa

R
40 MPa
p 30 MPa
σ
𝑝𝐷 𝑝𝐷 30 MPa
= 110 ∴ = 55
2𝑡 4𝑡 40 MPa
𝑝(400)
= 110 10 MPa
2(2.5) R = 50 MPa
F 𝑝 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟕𝟓 𝑴𝑷𝒂 90 MPa
1. Internal pressure “p” 𝐹
55 − = 10 𝐹 = 𝟏𝟒𝟏.𝟑𝟕 𝒌𝑵
2. Axial compressive force “F” 𝜋𝐷𝑡
3. Maximum in-plane shear stress 𝐹
= 45
𝜋(400)(2.5)

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A metal strap is attached to an Ipil post 180 mm in diameter as shown. The allowable shear
stress for Ipil is 1.04 MPa parallel to grain and 1.56 MPa perpendicular to grain. If “h” is the
distance of the strap from the ground, find the value of the force P as determined by the
shearing stress alone:
1. if h = 0 and P’ = P;
2. if h = 1.2 m and P’ = P;
3. if h = 1.2 m and P’ = P/2.
P’
P
P’

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1. P if h = 0 and P’ = P 2. P if h = 1.2 and P’ = P

P’ P’
P P
P’= P P’= P

V = 2P h V = 2P

P P

V VQ 4V
f = ; F ⊥ =1.56 MPa f = = ; F ∥ = 1.04 MPa
A Ib 3A
2P 4(2P)
1.56 = P =𝟏𝟗. 𝟖𝟓 𝒌𝑵 1.04 = P = 𝟗. 𝟗𝟐 𝒌𝑵
(0.25π)(180 ) 3 (0.25π)(180 )

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3. P if h = 1.2 and P’ = P/2

T - T’
= 90P - 45P
P’ T’= 0.5P(90) = 45P
P
P’= P/2
90
h V = 1.5P
90
P
T = P(90)

4V 16T
f = + ; F ∥ = 1.04 MPa
3A πD
4(1.5P) 16(45P)
1.04 = + P = 𝟖. 𝟖𝟐 𝒌𝑵
3 (0.25π)(180 ) π(180 )

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P P P

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Beer et al., 2012

Hibbeler, 2011

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A Channel section has the following dimensions: bf = 120 mm; tf = 16 mm; d = 300 mm; tw
= 12 mm. The beam is subjected to a vertical shear of 300 kN. To answer this problem,
consider a simplified section as shown.

1. Determine the shear flow at the junction of

the flange and the web.
2. Determine the horizontal shear developed in
each flange.
3. Determine the distance “e” from the
centerline of the web to the shear center of
the section.

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1. Shear flow at the junction of flange and web

803.04
120 (300 ) 108 (268 ) 114
𝑉𝑄 𝑉 = 300 𝑘𝑁 𝐼 = −
𝑞= 12 12 803.04 B
𝐼 16
= 96.76x10 mm
H A
𝑄 = 114(16)(142) = 259.008x10 mm
(300x10 )(259.008x10 ) 142
𝑞 = = 𝟖𝟎𝟑. 𝟎𝟒 𝑵/𝒎𝒎
(96.76x10 )
1178.15 284 C 300
𝑞 = 0
(300x10 )[12(142)(142/2)+259.008x10 ]
𝑞 =
(96.76x10 ) 142
= 1178.15 𝑁/𝑚𝑚
2. Horizontal shear developed in each flange H
114 (803.04)
𝐻= = 𝟒𝟓𝟕𝟕𝟑. 𝟐𝟖 𝑵 12
2
120

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3. Shear center 803.04

ΣMC =0] Ve = H d − t
803.04 B
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(300x10 )(e) =45773.28(284) H A
V
e = 𝟒𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 𝒎𝒎

284 1178.15 C

e V’

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