KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr.

Ng Chee Khoon

Element Subjected to General Two-Dimensional Stress System

The general two-dimensional stress system shown in Fig. 3.5 may be obtained by a
summation of the conditions of stresses in Figs. 3.3 and 3.4.

yx
xy B
s n y
x x
x

xy xy x
yx C A
yx

y y
Fig. 3.5 A rectangular element subjected to general two-dimensional stress system

The equations obtained for n and s under normal stresses and shear stresses separately
may be added together to give values for the normal and shear stresses on the inclined
plane AB as shown in Fig. 3.5 in the general stress system. Therefore, from Eqs. (3.4)
and (3.5),

1 1
n = ( x + y ) + ( x y ) cos 2 + xy sin 2 (3.13)
2 2

and from Eqs. (3.6) and (3.12),

1
s = ( x y ) sin 2 + xy cos 2 (3.14)
2

To prove that the principle of superposition applies here, let us derive the equations for n
and s again. Let the plane area per unit length, or area, of the face AB be dA. So, the
area of faces BC and AC are dAcos and dAsin respectively. Multiplying the stresses
by their respective areas and applying the equations of static equilibrium to the forces
acting on the wedge, stresses for n and s are obtained as follows:

F n = 0,

n dA = x dA cos cos + y dA sin sin + xy dA cos sin + yx dA sin cos

n = x cos 2 + y sin 2 + 2 xy cos sin (Q xy = yx )

Mohrs Circle 1
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

(1 + cos 2) (1 cos 2)
n = x + y + xy sin 2
2 2

1 1
n = ( x + y ) + ( x y ) cos 2 + xy sin 2 (verified)
2 2

F s = 0,

s dA = x dA cos sin + y dA sin cos + xy dA cos cos yx dA sin sin

s = x cos sin + y sin cos + xy cos 2 xy sin 2 (Q xy = yx )

1
s = ( x y ) sin 2 + xy cos 2 (verified)
2

Eqs. (3.13) and (3.14) are sometimes regarded as equations for transformation of stress
from one set of co-ordinate axes to another. Note particularly that x, y and xy are
initially known stresses.

Mohrs Circle of Stress

Considering Eqs. (3.13) and (3.14) again and rewriting,

1 1
n ( x + y ) = ( x y ) cos 2 + xy sin 2 (3.15)
2 2

1
s = ( x y ) sin 2 + xy cos 2 (3.16)
2

Squaring both sides and adding the equations,

2
1 1
n 2 ( x + y ) + s = 4 ( x y ) cos 2 + xy sin 2
2 2 2 2 2

1
+ ( x y ) 2 sin 2 2 + 2xy cos 2 2
4

2
1 1
n 2 ( x + y ) + s = 4 ( x y ) + xy
2 2 2
(3.17)

Eq. (3.17) is the equation of circle of radius

1
( x y ) 2 + 2xy
4

Mohrs Circle 2
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

and whose centre has the co-ordinates

1
2 ( x + y ), 0

The circle represents all possible states of normal and shear stresses on any plane through
a stress point in a material, and was developed by the German engineer Otto Mohr. The
element as shown in Fig. 3.5 and the corresponding Mohr circle are shown in Fig. 3.8.

The sign convention used on the circle will be, for normal stress, tensile stress is
positive and is plotted to the right of the origin; compressive stress is negative and is to
the left of origin. Shear stresses tending to cause a clockwise rotation of an element
are plotted above the abscissa, and shear stresses tending to cause anti-clockwise
rotation are plotted below the axis.

The Mohrs circle is constructed as follows:

1. Use the co-ordinate axes of normal stress and shear stress, both to the same scale.
2. Plot point B ( x , xy ) representing the direst and shear stresses acting on the plane
BC and point A ( y , yx ) representing the direst and shear stresses acting on the
plane AC.
3. Draw a line joining points A and B and the intersection of this line with the normal
stress axis id the centre of the circle C. Draw the circle with centre C and radius AC.

y
1
max r= ( x y ) 2 + 4 2xy
2
x ( y , yx ) U
A
B
s
n
Shear stress

Q E P Normal
x 2 1
O C 2 stress
xy
2 D
C A ( n , s )
yx B
V ( x , xy )
1
y ( x + y )
2
Fig. 3.8 Mohrs circle of stress

An angle equal to twice that in the element, i.e. 2 is set off from BC in the anti-
clockwise direction (the same sense as in the element), and the line CD then cuts the
circle at the point whose co-ordinates are ( n , s ) . These are then the normal and shear
stresses on the plane AB in the element.

The validity of the Mohrs circle is demonstrated thus:

1
n = OC + CE = ( x + y ) + r cos(2 2)
2

Mohrs Circle 3
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

1
n = ( x + y ) + r cos 2 cos 2 + r sin 2 sin 2
2

But

1
( x y ) xy
cos 2 = 2 and sin 2 =
r r

Therefore

1 1
n = ( x + y ) + ( x y ) cos 2 + xy sin 2 (verified)
2 2

s = DE = r sin(2 2) = r (sin 2 cos 2 cos 2 sin 2)

1
s = ( x y ) sin 2 + xy cos 2 (verified)
2

Thus from a Mohrs circle, if the stress conditions are known on two planes at a point in a
material, the normal and shear stresses on any other plane through the point can be found
using Mohrs circle.

Certain features of the Mohrs circle are worthy of note. The sides of element AC and
CB, which are 90 apart, are represented on the circle by AC and CB, 180 apart.

The maximum shear stress in an element is given by the top and bottom points of the
circle, i.e.

1
max = ( x y ) 2 + 2xy (3.18)
4

1
and the corresponding normal stress is ( x + y ) . The angle to the plane on which a
2
maximum shear stress acts is obtained from the circle as

tan 2 = tan(90 + 2) = cot 2

Therefore

x y
tan 2 = (3.19)
2
xy

The second plane of maximum shear stress is displaced by 90 from that above.

Mohrs Circle 4
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

Example 3.2. At a point in a complex stress field x = 40 MN/m2, y = 80 MN/m2 and xy = -

20 MN/m2. Use Mohrs circle solution to find the normal and shear stresses on a plane at 45
to the y-axis.

Solution.

(40,20)
-20
20 40
90
O
40 45

n = 40 y = 80
s = 20 xy = 20
-20
Stresses in MN/m 2
80
(a) (b)
Fig.3.9 Example 3.2
The Mohrs circle is constructed as shown in Fig. 3.9(a). From this figure, for = 45 on the
element which is 90 on the circle,

n = 40 MN/m 2

s = 20 MN/m 2

s is upward to the left as shown in Fig. 3.9(b) because it is below the axis of the Mohrs
circle, i.e. tending to turn the element anti-clockwise.

Example 3.3. Construct a Mohrs circle for the following point stress: x = 60 MN/m2, y =
10 MN/m2 and xy = +20 MN/m2. Determine the stress components and planes in which the
shear stress is maximum.

Mohrs Circle 5
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

Solution.

n = 35
s = 32 35 35
s
(10,20) n 1
60 32 32
21 64.5
O
22
20 35 35
x = 60
xy = 20 Stress in MN/m 2
10

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 3.10 Example 3.3

The stresses on the element are as shown in Fig. 3.10(b) and the corresponding Mohrs circle
is shown in Fig. 3.10(a).

From Fig. 3.10, the normal and maximum shear stress components are

n = 35 MN/m 2 s = 32 MN/m 2

acting on the planes 1 = 64.5 , 2 = 154.5 . The orientation of the element experiencing
these stresses is shown in Fig. 3.10(c).

Principal Stresses and Planes

It has been shown that Mohrs circle represents all possible states of normal and shear
stress at a point. From Fig. 3.8, it can be observed that there are two planes, QC and CP,
180 apart on the diagram and therefore 90 apart in the material, on which the shesr
stress s is zero.

These planes are termed principal planes and the normal stresses acting on them are
termed principal stresses. The latter are denoted by 1 and 2 at P and Q respectively,
and are the maximum and minimum values of normal stress that can be obtained at a
point in a material.

The values of the principal stresses can be found either from Eq. (3.17) by substituting s
= 0, or directly from the Mohrs circle; hence

x + y 1
1 = + ( x y ) 2 + 4 2xy (3.20)
2 2

x + y 1
2 = ( x y ) 2 + 4 2xy (3.21)
2 2

Mohrs Circle 6
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

in which 1 is the maximum and 2 the minimum principal stress. The planes are
specified by

2 = 2 and 180 + 2
or

= and 90 +

( y , yx )
A
x y
1 or 2
Shear stress

2
C Normal
2 1 x
O 2 stress
xy xy
yx
B
x + y ( x , xy )
, 0
2 y
(a) (b)
Fig. 3.11 Principal planes and stresses

From the geometry in Fig. 3.11(a)

xy xy
tan 2 = and sin 2 =
1 1
( x y ) ( x y ) 2 + 2xy
2 4

Therefore

2 xy 2 xy
= tan 1 and 90 + = tan 1 (3.22)

x y x y

Thus the magnitude and direction of the principal stresses at any point in a material
depend on x, y and xy at that point as shown in Fig. 3.11.

Maximum Shear Stress in Terms of Principal Stressess

It was shown earlier in Eq. (3.18) that the maximum shear stress at a point is given by

1 1
max = ( x y ) 2 + 2xy = ( x y ) 2 + 4 2xy
4 2

If Eqs. (3.20) and (3.21) for 1 and 2 are subtracted, then

Mohrs Circle 7
KNS1063 Strength of Materials Prof. Dr. Ng Chee Khoon

1 2 = ( x y ) 2 + 4 2xy (3.23)

and therefore

1
max = (1 2 ) (3.24)
2

It should be noted that principal stresses are considered a maximum or minimum

mathematically, e.g. a compressive or negative stress is less than a positive stress,
irrespective of numerical values.

In Mohrs circle the principal planes PC and CQ in Fig. 3.8 are at 90 to those of
maximum shear stress, UC and VC, and therefore in the material the angles between these
two sets of planes become 45, or the maximum shear stress planes bisect the principal
planes.

Mohrs Circle 8