Mohr-Coulomb Stress Criterion

The Mohr-Coulomb stress criterion is based on the Mohr-Coulomb theory also known as the Internal Friction theory. This criterion is used for brittle materials with different tensile and compressive properties. Brittle materials do not have a specific yield point and hence it is not recommended to use the yield strength to define the limit stress for this criterion. The theory predicts failure to occur when the combination of the maximum and minimum principal stress exceeds their respective stress limits. For the principal stresses 1, 2, and 3 ordered such as | 1 | > | theory predicts failure to occur in the following cases: State of Principal stresses Both principal stresses in tension: 1 > 0 and 3 > 0 Both principal stresses in compression: 1< 0 and 3 < 0 1 > 0 in tension, 3 < 0 in compression 1 < 0 in compression, 3 > 0 in tension 1 / TensileLimit + |3| / CompressiveLimit >1 |1| / 1
CompressiveLimit

|>|

|, the Mohr-Coulomb

Failure Criterion 1 > TensileLimit

FOS ( 1 / TensileLimit )-1

|1| > CompressiveLimit

( |1| / CompressiveLimit )-1

( 1 / TensileLimit + |3| / CompressiveLimit )-1

+ 3 / TensileLimit > (|1| / CompressiveLimit + 3 / TensileLimit)-1