MOHR-COULOMB

FAILURE
CRITERION
 MOHR-COULOMB
FA I L U R E
CRITERION

Sets of equations in the

principal stress space
describing the conditions
for which an isotropic
material will fail
 MOHR-COULOMB

𝜏 𝑓=𝑐+𝜎𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜑
•  FA I L U R E
CRITERION

Sets of equations in the

principal stress space
describing the conditions
for which an isotropic
material will fail
 MOHR-COULOMB
•  FA I L U R E
CRITERION

Sets of equations in the

principal stress space
describing the conditions
for which an isotropic
material will fail
 MOHR-COULOMB
FA I L U R E
CRITERION
 
UNIAXIAL TENSILE UNIAXIAL COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH TEST STRENGTH TEST
UNIAXIAL
COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH TEST
 UNIAXIAL
COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH TEST
 
 UNIAXIAL
COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH TEST
 
UNIAXIAL
TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
 UNIAXIAL
TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
 
 UNIAXIAL
TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
 
BRAZILIAN
INDIRECT TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
 BRAZILIAN
INDIRECT TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
 
 BRAZILIAN
INDIRECT TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
 
MOHR–COULOMB FAILURE CRITERION WITH
ADJUSTMENT FOR TENSILE NORMAL STRESSES
BRAZILIAN
INDIRECT TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
BRAZILIAN
INDIRECT TENSILE
STRENGTH TEST
EXAMPLE 5.3
Triaxial tests were carried out on 50-mm-diameter limestone
cores and the following data were obtained for the principal
stresses at failure.

Plot σ1f against σ3f and determine the uniaxial compressive

strength
σc and friction angle ϕ of the limestone.
σ3f σ1f
0 78
EXAMPLE 5.3
5 124.5
10 145.5
20 196
30 230.5
40 262.5
 σ3f σ1f
0 78
5 124.5
10 145.5 EXAMPLE 5.3
20 196
30 230.5
40 262.5

300

250 f(x) = 4.43 x + 95.24

R² = 0.97
200

150
σ1

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

σ3
 σ3f σ1f
0 78
5 124.5
10 145.5 EXAMPLE 5.3
20 196
30 230.5
40 262.5

300

250 f(x) = 4.43 x + 95.24

R² = 0.97
200

150
σ1

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

σ3
 σ3f σ1f
0 78
5 124.5
10 145.5 EXAMPLE 5.3
20 196

𝜎𝑐=95.2 MPa
30 230.5  
40 262.5

300

250 f(x) = 4.43 x + 95.24

R² = 0.97
200

150
σ1

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

σ3
 σ3f σ1f
0 78
5 124.5
10 145.5 EXAMPLE 5.3
20 196
30 230.5  
40 262.5

300

250 f(x) = 4.43 x + 95.24

R² = 0.97
200

150
σ1

100

50

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

σ3
• Peak shear strength is the
maximum shear stress that can
be carried by the element
• Peak shear strength is the
maximum shear stress that can
be carried by the element
• Residual shear strength is the
shear stress when the element
has undergone significant
strain
MOHR-COULOMB
FA I L U R E C R I T E R I O N
FOR ROCK MASS

Peak and residual

shear strengths:
(a) stress–strain
plot and
(b) failure
envelopes.
MOHR-COULOMB
FA I L U R E C R I T E R I O N
FOR ROCK MASS

Applying Terzaghi’s
effective stress theory
MOHR-COULOMB
FA I L U R E C R I T E R I O N
FOR ROCK MASS

Applying Terzaghi’s
effective stress theory
 MOHR-COULOMB
•  FA I L U R E C R I T E R I O N
FOR ROCK MASS

Applying Terzaghi’s
effective stress theory
 MOHR-COULOMB
•  FA I L U R E C R I T E R I O N
FOR ROCK MASS

Applying Terzaghi’s
effective stress theory
 MOHR-COULOMB
•  FA I L U R E C R I T E R I O N
FOR ROCK MASS

Applying Terzaghi’s
effective stress theory
HOEK–BROWN
FAILURE
CRITERION
•  I N TA C T R O C K
•  I N TA C T R O C K
A comparison:
(a) Hoek–Brown
failure criterion and

(b) Mohr–Coulomb
failure criterion
EXAMPLE 5.5
Triaxial tests were carried out on 50-mm-diameter limestone
cores and the following data were obtained for the principal
stresses at failure.

Neglect the pore water pressures. Plot (σ1f − σ3f)2 versus σ3f and determine
mi and σci for the limestone.
Using the preceding values of mi and σci, plot the theoretical failure
envelope in σ3f versus σ1f space.
Show the test data along with the theoretical failure envelope andsee how
well they match.
 σ3f (σ1f-σ3f)^2

0 6084
5 14280.25
10 18360.25
EXAMPLE 5.5
20 30976
30 40200.25
40 49506.25

60000

50000
f(x) = 1070.45 x + 7834.97
R² = 0.99
40000
(σ1f-σ3f)^2

30000

20000

10000

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

σ3f
EXAMPLE 5.5
•  ROCK MASS
•  ROCK MASS
 ROCK MASS
Marinos and Hoek (2001)
ROCK MASS
EXAMPLE 5.7

For the massive strong rock gneiss with very few joints in
Table 5.1, with GSI = 75, mi = 28 and σci = 110 MPa, estimate
the rock mass parameters mm, s and a.
 EXAMPLE 5.7

• 

 
 EXAMPLE 5.7

•