Mechanics of Aircraft structures

C.T. Sun

2.8

A state of hydrostatic stress is given by

0
[ ij ] = 0
0

0
0

0
0
0

Show that on any surface the force (or stress vector) is always perpendicular to
the surface and that the magnitude of the stress vector is equal to 0 .
Solution:
(a) Assume any arbitrary plane surface with its normal unit vector {n} = {n x , n y , n z }.
T

The stress vector acting on this surface, from equation (2.29) in the textbook,

t x
{t} = t y =
t
z

nx
{n} = 0 n y .
n
z

[ ]

Since 0 is a scalar, the stress vector on this arbitrary surface is always parallel
to the normal vector of this surface. This leads to the conclusion that the stress
vector is always perpendicular to the surface.
--- ANS
(b) The magnitude of this stress vector t is

{t} = (t x )2 + (t y )2 + (t z )2 = 0 {n} = 0 .
--- ANS

2.8.1