Theories of failures

Outlines

• Maximum Stress Theory

• Maximum Strain Theory

• Maximum Shear Theory

• Von Mises Yield Theory

Introduction

• The term failure depicts to

• Yielding

• Rupture

• Whichever appears first

• To Quantify the failure, various theories are

presented
• Based on Uniaxial Tension

• Uniaxial Compression

• Are Presented in Proportional Limits

Maximum Stress Theory

• Also known as Rankine Theory

• Oldest and Simplest

• “Failure Occurs When the Maximum Principal

Stress approaches to limiting Value”

• This theory neglects the effect of shearing

stresses

• Is most commonly used for Brittle materials

Maximum Strain Theory

• Was Presented by B. De Saint Venant

• It is applicable to Ductile Materials

• A material will tend to yield is the maximum

principal strain reaches to the strain at
which yielding occur

• Applicable for both – Tension and

Compression
Maximum Shear Stress Theory

• It is also known as Guest’s Theory or

Tresca Theory

• Yielding begins when the maximum

shear stress equals to shearing stress
developed in yielding for simple tensile
test

• Maximum Shearing stress is half of the

difference of maximum and minimum
principal stresses
Von Mises Theory

• Also known as Maximum Shear distortion theory

• Was Presented by Von Mises

• Yielding can occur in a general 3 dimensional State of Stress when the root
mean square of differences between the principal stresses equals to same
value in tensile test

• Its most popular theory for prediction of yielding in ductile materials

• Its related to strain energy theory

• Volumetric Strain Energy

• Distortion Strain Energy

Von Mises Theory

• For elastic body

• Material begins to yield when

•
Mohr’s Theory

• It is applicable for materials having different

properties
• In Tension

• In Compression

• 2 Independent Circles are drawn

• Ultimate Stress in tension

• Ultimate Stress in Compression

• Tangents are connected to develop the Envelop

Problem

• The ultimate strength of a brittle material is 40 MPa in tension and

50 MPa in compression. Use Mohr’s failure criterion to determine
whether the plane state of stress in Fig. (a) would result in failure
of this material.