Prandtl stress function (Ludwig

Prandtl 1875-1953)
A trick to reduce three unknown stresses to a single
unknown stress function

Let: xz =

yz =

Solves exactly differential equations of equilibrium

yz xz
y

=0

Substitute into compatibility equation

zx zy

= 2G
y
x

Mission accomplished!

2
2

2
=
+ 2 = 2 G
2
x
y

Boundary conditions and moments

Zero boundary stress
zx = sin
sin =

dx
ds

zy = cos
cos =

dy
ds

zx cos zy sin = 0 zx

dy
dx
zy
=0
ds
ds

dy dx d
+
=
= 0 is constant on the boundary
y ds x ds ds

Torque

= T = ( x zy y zx ) dxdy
A

T = x
+y
dxdy = 2 dxdy
x
y
A

Elliptical Cross Section

For elliptical cross section

x2 y2
= B 2 + 2 1
b
h

Substituting into Poissons equation get

h 2b 2G
B= 2
h + b2

Maximum stress and angle

Stresses

2 By
2h 2Gy
= 2 = 2
zx =
x
b
h + b2

2 Bx 2b 2Gx
zy =
= 2 = 2
h
h + b2
x

max = zy ( x = h )

Torque

2b 2 hG
= 2
h + b2

2B 2
2B 2
2B
2B
T = 2 x dA+ 2 y dA 2B dA = 2 I y + 2 I x 2BA
h
b
h
b

T = Bhb

Torsional constant and polar moment

of inertia
Altogether get
max

T (b 2 + h 2 )
T
2T
=
,
=
=

G b3 h3
G"J "
bh 2

b3 h3
(b + h )
2

= G"J "

How can we see that torsional constant is not equal to polar

moment of inertia? Note that
hb3
bh 3
Ix =

Iy =

Example
Find how much we increase twist angle and maximum shear stress
by using an elliptical cross section with b/h=2 instead of a circular
section of same area. What is the error if we use J, not J
Area Equality :
2
2

bh = 2 h

Maximum Stress :

r
h=
;b = r 2
2
max

Angle of twist:

= r

2T
2T 2
=
=
(41% higher)
2
3
bh
r

T (b 2 + h 2 ) 2.5Tr 2
=
=
(25% higher)
3 3
6
r
G b h
With J instead of "J"

4T
1.6T
=
(20% lower)
2
2
4
G bh(b + h ) r

Rectangle : Solution difficult to obtain

by Prandtl Stress function

max

T
k 2 ( 2 b )( 2 h ) 2

T
k 1 G ( 2 b )( 2 h ) 3

Torsional Parameters for Rectangular Cross Sections

b/h

1.5

2.5

10

K1

0.141

0.196

0.229

0.249

0.263

0.281

0.299

0.312

0.333

K2

0.208

0.231

0.246

0.256

0.267

0.282

0.299

0.312

0.333

The Prandtl soap-film analogy

Textbook shows that for elastic membrane
(e.g. soap film)

p
z z
=

+
2
2
S
y
x
2

Why is that helpful?

Reading assignment
Sections 6.5-6: Using Table 6.1, for what aspect ratio is it
reasonable to use the approximation of long and narrow
cross section?

Source: www.library.veryhelpful.co.uk/ Page11.htm