Module 4 PRINCIPAL STRESSES AND STRAINS

Stresses in a Tensile Member

When a bar of uniform sectional area is subjected to an axial load (see Fig 1 below) the
stress acting on a cross section given by normal to the axis is .

Fig 1

Consider another section given by the plane inclined at to , The area cut by the
plane is . Let the normal stress across be

Resolving perpendicular to , we get

Further there will be a shearing stress of acting parallel to and the resolving in this
direction, we get

This means that when a rod subjected to pure tension, both tensile and shearing stresses are
produced. In a material under direct compression, the corresponding stresses would be

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compressive and shearing. It is possible that the shearing stress produced may be more
important than the applied stress. The greatest shearing stress may be calculated as

At , . Since

Therefore )

Note: In concrete, failure in compression occurs across the shear planes at to the applied
load.

Stresses due to Pure Shearing

Assuming a rectangular block (see Fig 2 below) of unit depth perpendicular to the
paper. Let shearing stresses act along the faces and . For equilibrium there may be
neither a resultant force nor a resultant couple.

Fig 2

Since there is no resultant horizontal force, but the couple due to these
is

If shearing stresses are introduced on the surfaces to balance the

outstanding couple for equilibrium, then

Or

Hence, for equilibrium, complementary shearing stresses must be introduced.

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Fig 3

With reference to Fig 3 above, If an arbitrary plane cuts the block at an angle to ,
the stresses acting across the plane can be determined by resolution. Let the direct and
shearing stresses across be and respectively.

Resolving perpendicular to , we get

Therefore,

The maximum value will occur when and the

minimum will be at or (compressive).In other words a case of a pure
shear is equivalent to a direct tensile stress and a direct compressive stress acting
perpendicular to each other.

Resolving parallel to we have

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 ,

Two Mutually Perpendicular Direct Stresses

At any point in a material where stress is acting, it is possible to assume that the point consist
of a very small triangular block, such that the stresses act across the faces of the block.
Considering Fig 4 below, the direct stresses act across the faces and
that the block has unit depth perpendicular to Let the stresses and act on the same
plane at an angle to .

Fig 4

Resolving normal to

[ ] [ ]

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When Then

And when Then

Resolving parallel to , we get

( )

The maximum value of occurs when Then

The resultant stress

where is the angle which the resultant stress makes with the normal to the
plane and is called obliquity

Principal Planes and the Principal Stresses

A body may be subjected to stresses in one plane or in different planes. There are always
three mutually perpendicular planes along which the stresses at a certain point (in a body) can
be resolved completely into stresses normal to these planes. These planes which pass through
the point in such a manner that the resultant stress across them is totally a normal stress are
known as Principal Planes and the normal stresses across these planes are termed Principal
Stresses. The plane carrying the maximum normal stress is called the Major Principal Plane
and the corresponding stress the Major Principal Stress. The plane carrying the minimum

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normal stress is known as Minor Principal Plane and the corresponding stress as Minor
Principal Stress.

Two-Dimensional Stress System (General)

When the stresses at some point are considered to be acting on a small triangular block, Then
a general stress system will consist of direct and shearing stresses acting across the faces of
the block. Making reference to Fig 5. Consider plane at angle to the plane of the
stress.

Resolving normal to we get

Fig 5

Resolving along

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 ( )

[ ]

Case 1: In order to find out the principal stresses, the maximum and minimum values of
must be obtained

Differentiating with respect to in equation (8) above, we get

( )

Equating this to zero for maximum , we get

( )

Comparing with equation (9), we have

Hence for a principal plane there may be no shear stress acting.

Also ( )

Or

It follows that for any particular system, the principal stresses may be calculated by
considering the planes which carry zero shearing stress (see Fig 6).

Fig 6

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Case 2 To get maximum value of differentiating with respect to in equation (9) and
equating to zero, we get

( )

Or ( )

Or

Also

And

Where and are the inclinations of maximum shear stress with the plane of tensile stress

Therefore

And ( )

Resolving normal to

Dividing both sides by , we get

[ ]

Resolving parallel to

Dividing both side by , we get

Hence

And

or ( )

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Solving for √

That is √

Therefore, Major Principal stress

√( )

Minor principal stress

√( )

Also

also

Graphical Methods

Morh’s circle

A German scientist Otto Morh devised a graphical method for finding out the normal and
shear stresses on any interface of an element when it is subjected to two perpendicular
stresses.

Case 1: Mohr’s circle construction for like stresses

Fig 7

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Steps of construction

a. Using a suitable scale, measure equal respectively on the axis

.
b. Bisect and .
c. With as centre and radius, Draw a circle.
d. At the centre draw a line at an angle in the same direction as the normal to
the plane makes with the direction of . Fig 7a represent the stress system, the
normal to the plane makes an angle with the direction of in the anticlockwise
direction . The line therefore is drawn in the anticlockwise direction.
e. From P, draw a perpendicular on the axis . represent and represent .

From the stress diagram,

Similarly

Also, from stress circle is maximum when

Sign conventions used

a. In order to mark in stress system, assume the clockwise shear as positive and
anticlockwise shear as negative.
b. Positive values of will be above the axis and negative values below the axis.
c. If is in the anticlockwise direction, the radius vector will be above the axis and
will be reckoned positive. If is in the clockwise direction, it will be negative and
the radius vector will be below the axis.
d. Tensile stress will be reckon positive and will be plotted to the right of the origin .
Compressive stress will be reckon as negative and will be plotted to the left of the
origin .

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 Case 2: Mohr’s circle construction for unlike stresses

Fig 8

In case are not alike, the same procedure as above will be followed except that
will be measured to the opposite sides of the origin. The construction is given in
Fig. 8. It may be noted that the direction of will depend upon its position with respect to
the point . If it is to the right of , the direction of will be the same with that of

Case 3: Mohr’s circle construction for two perpendicular direct stresses with state of
simple shear.

Fig 9

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Making reference to Fig 9. The following steps of construction are followed if the material is
subjected to direct stresses along with a state of simple shear.

Procedure

a. Using some suitable scale, Measure and along the axis

b. At draw perpendicular to and equal to . has been drawn downward(as
per sign conventions adopted) because is acting up with respect to the plane
across which is acting, tending to rotate it in the anticlockwise direction and is
negative.
c. Similarly, make perpendicular to and equal to , but above
d. Join to cut the axis in
e. With as centre and as radius, draw a circle.
f. At make at angle with in the anticlockwise direction.
g. Draw perpendicular to the axis. will give while will give and will
give

Proof. Let the radius of the stress circle be

Then √ √[ ]

Also

Now

The following conclusions can be drawn from the stress circle

1. When coincides with attains the maximum value.

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 √[ ] [ ]

is known as major principal stress

[ ]

2. When coincides with attains the minimum value

√[ ] [ ]

is known as minor principal stress

; ⁄

3. When attains the maximum value

√[ ]

When

√[ ]

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Morh’s circle construction for Principal Stresses

Fig 10

Steps

a. Mark perpendicular to
b. At and erect perpendicular proportional to in appropriate
directions.
c. Join intersecting the axis in

Since represent the major principal plane coinciding with similarly

represent minor principal plane, coincide with

Where is the radius of the circle.

√[ ]

Similarly,

√[ ]

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EXAMPLE 1: A circular bar is subjected to an axial pull of 100kN. If the maximum
intensity of shear stress on any oblique plane is not to exceed 60MN/m2, determine the
diameter of the bar.

Solution: Axial pull

Maximum intensity of shear stress

But maximum shear stress

Note: [ ⁄ ]
⁄

EXAMPLE 2: A short metallic column of 500mm2 cross sectional area shown in Fig A
below carries an axial compressive load of 100kN. For a plane inclined at 600 with the
direction of load, calculate

1. Normal stress
2. Tangential stress
3. Resultant stress
4. Maximum shear stress
5. Obliquity of the resultant stress.

Solution: cross sectional area (see Fig A(a)) of the column at plane LM is

Cross sectional area along the plane MN

Axial compressive load

Let

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 Fig A

For equilibrium of wedge (See Fig A(b)) resolve the forces in perpendicular and
parallel directions to the plane

Then

1. Normal stress

2. Tangential stress

(shear).

3. Resultant stress √

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 4. Maximum shear stress

5. The obliquity of the resultant stress

EXAMPLE 3: The principal stresses in the wall of a container (see Fig B below) are
40MN/m2 and 80MN/m2. Determine the normal, shear and resultant stresses in magnitude
and direction in a plane, the normal of which makes an angle 300 with the direction of
maximum principal stress.

Solution. Given

Fig B

1. Normal Stress

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 2. Shear stress

3. Resultant stress

If is the angle that the resultant makes with the normal to the plane, Then

EXAMPLE 4: The principal stresses at a point across two perpendicular planes are
75MN/m2 (tensile) and 35MN/m2 (tensile). Using both analytical and graphical
methods. Find

1. The normal stress

2. Tangential stresses
3. Resultant stress and its obliquity on a plane at 200 with the major principal plane.

Using analytical Mehod

Given;

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Normal stress

Tangential stress

Resultant stress √

Obliquity

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 Using Graphical Mehod

Fig B

Making reference to Fig B

1. Plot

2. Bisect to get and draw the circle with radius as shown in Fig B
3. Make at angle
4. Drop perpendicular
From Mohr’s circle we have

EXAMPLE 5: At a point in a stressed body the principal stresses are 100MN/m2 (tensile)
and 60 MN/m2 (compressive). Determine the normal stress and the shear stress on a plane
inclined at 500 to the axis of major principal stress. Also calculate the maximum shear stress
at the point.

Solution Given

Note:

Using the Analytical method

Normal stress

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Shear stress/Tangential stress

Maximum shear stress

Using Graphical Mehod

1. Plot
compression).
2. Bisect to get and draw the circle with radius as shown below.
3. Make at angle 1000(i.e
4. Drop perpendicular
From the mohr’s circle we have

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