MECDEF 204 – Mechanics of

Deformable Bodies
P O I S S O N ’ S R AT I O : B I A X I A L A N D T R I A X I A L D E F O R M AT I O N

When a homogenous slender bar is axially

loaded, the resulting stress and strain satisfies
Hooke’s Law as , long as the elastic limit is not
exceeded. Assuming that the load P is directed along
the x axis, σx = P/A and from Hooke’s Law.,

x =x / E

Also the normal stresses on faces perpendicular to

the y and z axis are zero : σy = σz = 0.
P O I S S O N ’ S R AT I O : B I A X I A L A N D T R I A X I A L D E F O R M AT I O N

It would be tempting to conclude that the

corresponding strains εy and εz are also zero. This is
not the case. In all engineering materials, the
elongation produced by an axial tensile force P in the
direction of the force is accompanied by a contraction
in any transverse direction.

It also would be tempting, but equally wrong, to assume that the volume of the rod
remains unchanged as a result of the combined effect of the axial elongation and
transverse contraction.
P O I S S O N ’ S R AT I O : B I A X I A L A N D T R I A X I A L D E F O R M AT I O N

In this section and the following sections, all

materials are assumed to be both homogeneous and
isotropic (i.e., their mechanical properties are
independent of both position and direction). It follows
that the strain must have the same value for any
transverse direction.
Therefore, the loading shown in must have εy = εz.
This common value is the lateral strain. An important
constant for a given material is its Poisson’s ratio, named
after the French mathematician Siméon Denis Poisson
(1781–1840) and denoted by the lowercase Greek ν (nu).
P O I S S O N ’ S R AT I O : B I A X I A L A N D T R I A X I A L D E F O R M AT I O N

Poisson’s ratio is defined as the ratio of the transverse

strain to the axial strain that is constant for stresses within
the proportional limit.
For uniaxial loading,

lateral strain y z
v=− or v = − = −
axial strain x x

It follows that

x v x
x = y = z = −
E E
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1:

A 500-mm-long, 16-mm-diameter rod made of a homogenous, isotropic material is

observed to increase in length by 300 μm, and to decrease in diameter by 2.4 μm when
subjected to an axial force of 12 kN. Determine the modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s
ratio of the material.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:

A tension test was conducted on a 1.975-in.-wide by 0.375-in.-thick

specimen of a Nylon plastic. A 4.000-in. gage length was marked on the specimen
before load application. In the elastic portion of the stress–strain curve at an
applied load of P = 6,000 lb, the elongation in the gage length was measured as
0.023 in., and the contraction in the bar width was measured as 0.004 in.
Determine (a) the elastic modulus. (b) Poisson’s ratio.
P O I S S O N ’ S R AT I O : B I A X I A L A N D T R I A X I A L D E F O R M AT I O N

Consider a structural element subjected to loads acting

in the directions of the three coordinate axes and producing
normal stresses σx, σy, and σz. This condition is multiaxial
loading.
𝜎𝑥 𝑣𝜎𝑦 𝑣𝜎𝑧 1
𝜀𝑥 = + − − = +𝜎𝑥 − 𝑣𝜎𝑦 − 𝑣𝜎𝑧
𝐸 𝐸 𝐸 𝐸

𝑣𝜎𝑥 𝜎𝑦 𝑣𝜎𝑧 1
𝜀𝑦 = − + − = −𝑣𝜎𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦 − 𝑣𝜎𝑧
𝐸 𝐸 𝐸 𝐸
These are the generalized Hooke’s law for
𝑣𝜎𝑥 𝑣𝜎𝑦 𝜎𝑧 1
𝜀𝑥 = − − + = −𝑣𝜎𝑥 − 𝑣𝜎𝑦 + 𝜎𝑧 the multiaxial loading of a homogeneous
𝐸 𝐸 𝐸 𝐸 isotropic material.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:

A steel block shown is subjected to

a uniform pressure on all its faces.
Knowing that the change in length of edge
AB is –0.03 mm, determine (a) the change
in length of the other two edges and (b)
the pressure p applied to the faces of the
block. Assume E = 200 GPa and v = 0.29.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4:

A 50-mm-diameter rod is placed in a hole

with rigid, lubricated walls. There is no clearance
between the rod and the sides of the hole.
Determine the change in the length of the rod,
when the 8 kN load is applied. Assume E = 70
GPa and v = 0.45.
D I L ATAT I O N A N D B U L K M O D U L U S

Here, we examine the effects of the normal stresses om

the volume of an element of isotropic material.
Consider an isotropic structural element subjected to
loads shown. In its unstressed state, it is in the shape of a cube
of unit volume. Under the stresses σx, σy, and σz, it deforms
into a rectangular parallelepiped of volume
 = (1 +  x )(1 +  y )(1 +  z )

Since the strains εx, εy and εz are small, their products

can be omitted in the expansion of the product. Therefore,
 =1+  x +  y +  z
D I L ATAT I O N A N D B U L K M O D U L U S

The change in volume e of the element is

e =  −1 = 1+  x +  y +  z −1

e = x +y +z

Since the element had a unit volume, e represents the change

in volume per unit volume and is called the dilatation of the
material. It can be shown that
x + y +z 2v( x +  y +  z )
e= −
E E
1 − 2v
e= ( x +  y +  z )
E
D I L ATAT I O N A N D B U L K M O D U L U S

When a body is subjected to a uniform hydrostatic

pressure p, each of the stress component is equal to –p, then

1 − 2v 3(1 − 2v)
e= (−3 p ) = − p
E E

Introducing the constant, which is the bulk modulus or the

modulus of compression, k
E
k=
3(1 − 2v)
Then,

p
e=−
k
D I L ATAT I O N A N D B U L K M O D U L U S

For any engineering material,

1
0<𝑣<
2
Note that an ideal material having n equal to zero can
be stretched in one direction without any lateral contraction.
On the other hand, an ideal material for which
1
𝑣= and 𝑘=∞
2

is perfectly incompressible (e = 0)
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5:

Determine the change in volume ΔV of the steel block shown

when it is subjected to the hydrostatic pressure p = 180 MPa. Use E =
200 GPa and v = 0.29.
T R Y:

The block shown is made of a magnesium alloy for which E = 45 GPa and
𝑣 = 0.35. Knowing that 𝜎𝑥 = −180 MPa, determine (a) the magnitude of 𝜎𝑦 for
which the change in the height of the block will be zero, (b) the corresponding
change in the area of the face ABCD, (c) the corresponding change in the volume
of the block.
THERMAL STRESSES

Consider a homogenous rod AB of uniform cross-section that rests freely on a smooth

horizontal surface. If the temperature of the rod is raised by ΔT, the rod elongates by an amount δT
that is proportional to both the temperature and the length L of the rod. That is

 T =  (T ) L

where α is a constant characteristic of the material called the coefficient of thermal expansion.
THERMAL STRESSES

Associated with deformation δT must be a strain εT = δT/L. Then

 T =  (T )

The strain εT is called the thermal strain as it is caused by the change in temperature
of the rod. However, there is no stress associated with the strain εT if the deformation is
permitted to occur freely.
THERMAL STRESSES

Assume rod AB of length L is placed between two fixed supports at a distance L

from each other and neither stress nor strain is present in the initial condition. If the
temperature is raised by ΔT, the rod cannot elongate because of the restraints imposed on
the ends; thus δT = 0 and εT = 0. However, the supports will exert equal and opposite
forces on the rod after the temperature has been raised to keep it from elongating. It
follows that a state of stress is created in the rod.
THERMAL STRESSES
Using the superposition method as
described, the rod is detached from support B and
elongate freely as it undergoes the temperature
change ΔT and the corresponding elongation is

 T =  (T ) L

Applying to end B the force P, representing the

redundant reaction

PL
P =
AE
THERMAL STRESSES
Expressing that the total deformation δ must
be zero,
PL
 =  T +  P =  (T ) L + =0
AE

From which
P = − AE (T )

The stress in the rod due to temperature change ΔT

is
P
 = = − E (T )
A
SAMPLE PROBLEM 6:
A = 750 mm2
A = 380 mm2

300 mm 300 mm

Determine the values of the stress in portions AC and CB of the

steel bar shown when the temperature of the bar is -45°C knowing that a
close fit exist at both of the rigid supports when the temperature is
+24°C. Use the values E = 200 GPa and α = 11.7 × 10-6/°C for steel.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 7: Figure shows a homogeneous,
rigid block weighing 12 kips that is
supported by three symmetrically
placed rods. The lower ends of the rods
were at the same level before the block
was attached. (a) Determine the stress
in each rod after the block is attached
and the temperature of bars increases
by 100°F. (b) Determine the
temperature increase that would cause
the entire weight of the block to be
carried by the steel rods.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 8:
A 2014-T6 aluminum tube (α = 23 x 10-6/°C; E
= 73.10 GPa) having a cross-sectional area of 600
mm2 is used as a sleeve for an A-36 steel bolt (α =
12 x 10-6/°C; E = 200 GPa) having a cross-sectional
area of 400 mm2. When the temperature is 15°C,
the nut holds the assembly in a snug position such
that the axial force in the bolt is negligible. If the
temperature increases to 80°C, determine the force
in the bolt and sleeve.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9:

A pin-connected structure is loaded and supported as shown. Member

BCDF is a rigid plate. Member (1) is a steel [E = 200 GPa; A1= 310 mm2; 𝛼 = 11.9 x
10-6/°C] bar, and member (2) is an aluminum [E = 70 GPa; A2 = 620 mm2; 𝛼 = 22.5
x 10-6/°C] bar. A load of 6 kN is applied to the plate at F. If the temperature
increases by 20°C, compute the normal stresses in members (1) and (2).
SHEARING STRAIN

In general, the stress condition in an element is shown in the figure. Normal stresses
tends to create normal strains, however, shearing stresses when present has no direct effect
on the normal strains, as long as all the deformations involved remain small. The shearing
stresses, however, tend to deform a cubic element of material into an oblique
parallelepiped. The length of the sides of the element do not change, but the element
undergoes a distortion.
SHEARING STRAIN

The shear strain, which measures the amount of distortion, is the angle γ (lowercase Greek
gamma), always expressed in radians. The relationship of shear stress τ and shear strain γ is
linear within the elastic range, thus  = G
Where G is a material constant called the shear modulus of elasticity (shear modulus) or
the modulus of rigidity. It can also be shown that E
G=
2(1 +  )
SAMPLE PROBLEM 10:

A rectangular block of a material with a modulus of rigidity G = 630

MPa is bonded between two rigid horizontal plates. The lower plate is
fixed, while the upper plate is subjected to a horizontal force P. Knowing
that the upper plate moves through 1 mm under the action of the force,
determine (a) the average shearing strain in the material and (b) the force
P exerted in the upper plate.
T R Y:

A thin rectangular plate is uniformly

deformed as shown. Determine the
shear strain at P.
S E AT W O R K :
A sleeve in the form of a circular tube of length L is placed around a bolt and fitted
between washers at each end. The nut is then turned until it is just snug. The sleeve and
bolt are made of different materials and have different cross-sectional areas. (Assume
that the coefficient of thermal expansion αS of the sleeve is greater than the coefficient
αB of the bolt.)
(a) If the temperature of the entire assembly is raised by an amount ΔT, what
stresses σS and σB are developed in the sleeve and bolt, respectively?
(b) What is the increase δ in the length L of the sleeve and bolt?
S E AT W O R K :

The brass strip AB has been attached to a fixed support at A and

rests on a rough support at B. Knowing that the coefficient of
friction is 0.60 between the strip and the support at B, determine
the decrease in temperature for which slipping will impend.