Mohr circle

Consolidation and deformation occur only

when external load applied
Shear failure occurs also when external load
exist
Axial loads

Cylinder with radius r

for horizontal plane PQ
Normal stress n0
F
n0 =
A

Shear stress = 0
Axial loads

Inclined plane PQ
to F direction
F components:
N = normal N = F cos
T = shear T = F sin
Normal stress n0
N cos F

n0 = = cos
2

A A
Shear stress
T cos F
= = sin 2
A 2A
Axial loads

Max shear stress

d F
= cos 2
d A
d / d = 0

cos 2 = 0
= 45 o (or 135 o )
F
max =
2A
n0 max on a plane with = 0o
Example

A cylindrical specimen of soil, 50mm

diameter and 100mm long is subjected to an
axial compressive force of 5 kN. Find:
The normal stress n0 and shear stress ,
acting on the plane inclined at 30o to the
radial directions
The maximum shear stress
The inclination of plane where the shear
stress is equal to one-half max.
Solution

Area A = r 2 = 0.0252 = 1.96 10 3 m 2

5
n0 = 3
cos 30 = 1913 kPa
2 o

1.96 10
5
= 3
sin 60 o
= 1105 kPa
2 1.96 10

5
max = 3
= 1275 kPa
2 1.96 10
1
1
2 max = max sin 2 sin 2 = = 15 0 or 75 0
2
Biaxial loads

Rectangular plane

Two sets of stresses

1, 2 act normal and perpendicularly

Biaxial loads

F1 = 1l
N 1 = 1l cos
T1 = 1l sin
F2 = 2 l tan
N 2 = 2 l tan sin forces in the direction of n0

T2 = 2 l tan cos n 0 l sec = N 1 + N 2

n 0 = 1 cos + 2 sin
2 2
Biaxial loads

F1 = 1l
N 1 = 1l cos
T1 = 1l sin
F2 = 2 l tan
N 2 = 2 l tan sin forces in the direction of

T2 = 2 l tan cos l sec = T1 T2

= 1
2
( 1 2 )sin 2
Sign convention

Shear stress zy acts tangentially along the

edge.Generally, the first subscript letter
represents the plane to which the force act
and the second one is the direction.
Compressive normal stress is positive and
tensile normal stress is negative.
Anticlockwise shear stress is positive and
clockwise shear stress is negative.
Generalized Biaxial system
Contd

Resolving forces in the direction of n0:

n 0 l sec = N a + N b + N c + N d
n 0= z cos 2 + y sin 2 + zy sin 2
direction
l sec = Ta + Tb + Tc + Td
= 12 ( y z )sin 2 + zy cos 2
Contd
The null shear strength = 0
2 zy
tan 2 =
z y

where
2 zy z y
sin 2 = cos 2 =
[( z y ) + 4
2
]
2 2
zy [( z y ) + 4
2
]
2 2
zy

1 cos 2 1 + cos 2
sin =
2 cos =
2

2 2
Contd
Enter to => n 0= z cos + y sin + zy sin 2
2 2

n 0 = ( z + y )
1
2
1
2
[( z y ) + 4
2
zy]
2 1/ 2

max =>
= 1
2
( y z )sin 2 + zy cos 2

d y z
=0 tan 2 =
d 2 zy

max = 1
2
[( z y ) + 4 zy
2
]
1/ 2
Example

A flat plate of soil with uniform

thickness 20mm is cut into the shape
of a square with 100mm long squared
edges.
The test is performed by increasing
the magnitude of 1 and 2
simultaneously, but keeping 1
always four times of 2. If failure of
the soil occurs when the shear stress
on any plane exceeds 1 MPa, what
would be the values of the 1 and 2
at the moment of failure?
 Example

As max = 1 MPa and 1 = -42, then at failure:

max = ( 1 2 )
1
2

1 = 12 ( 4 2 2 ) 2 = 0.4 MPa; 1 = 1.6 MPa

Example

Would the values of 1 and 2 at

failure be changed if:
the rock had a tensile strength of
0.5 Mpa
a planar weakness running
through the test specimen
inclined at 60o to the direction of
2 , would rupture if the shear
stress on it exceeds 0.8 MPa
Example
The planar weakness inclined at 30o to the direction
of 1, then the normal stress n0 acts in a direction
of 60o to 1. The shear stress on the plane of
weakness is calculated by putting = 60o.

= 1
2
( 1 2 )sin 2 = 0.8666 MPa

Since the rupture occurs when = 0.8 MPa, and

shear stress on the weakness plane more than
rupture shear stress, the weakness then has
influence to the failure. By putting = 0.8Mpa, we
get 1 = 1.48MPa and 2 = -0.37 MPa.
Mohr circle
Rearrange
n 0= z cos + y sin + zy sin 2
2 2

n 0 2 ( z + y ) =
( y )cos 2 + zy sin 2
1 1
To 2 z

Then square it => add with square of:

= 12 ( y z )sin 2 + zy cos 2

we get:
[ n0 ]
12 ( z + y ) + 2 =
2
[ (
1
2 z ]
y ) + zy2
2
Mohr circle
n 0= z cos + y sin + zy sin 2
2 2

If rearrange to
1 + cos 2 1 + sin 2
n 0= z + y + zy sin 2
2 2
we get:
n 0+ 12 ( z + y ) = 12 ( z y ) cos 2 + zy sin 2

Squaring and added with

= 1
2
( y z )sin 2 + zy cos 2

( n0 1
(
2 z + y ) ) + 2
= 1
4
2
( z y ) 2
+ 2
zy
Mohr circle
If n 0= z cos + y sin + zy sin 2
2 2

s= 1
2
( z + y )

r 2 == [ (
1
2 z ]
y ) + zy2
2

we get:

( n 0 s ) 2
+ = r
2 2
Mohr circle
The stresses n0 and
acting on the plane at
angle clockwise to the
plane where z acts
It can be found by
moving clockwise from
the point of z zy along
the circle with a distance
of 2.
the major principal stress
1 acts on the plane
inclined at an angle to
the plane where z acts
Mohr circle
From figure
n0 = 1
2
( z + y ) + r cos (2 2 )
zy 2 zy
r= tan 2 =
sin 2 z y

enter to:

n 0= 1
2
( z + y )+ 1
2
( z y )cos 2 + zy sin 2
Mohr circle
From figure
r sin (2 2 )
zy 2 zy
r= tan 2 =
sin 2 z y

enter to:

= 1
2
( y z )sin 2 + zy cos 2
Mohr circle
From figure
r sin (2 2 )
zy 2 zy
r= tan 2 =
sin 2 z y

enter to:

= 1
2
( y z )sin 2 + zy cos 2
Mohrs Circle of Stress
 1

3 3

3 3

1
 Stresses in Soil

pressure 1 pressure 1

zero zero
pressure pressure

pressure 1 pressure 1
Stresses in Soil
1
direct stress

1
shear
stress
=0

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1 1

=0

=0

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

3

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1

1

=0

1 1
Stresses in Soil
1
Question: What
is the stress at
this point?

0 1
Answer: This
circle Mohrs
1
Circle of
Stress
 Stresses in Soil
1
1

3 3
3 3
3 1
3 3

1 Mohrs
1
Circle of
Stress
Soil with Cohesion and Friction
Soil fails when
Mohrs circle
touches these
c lines
3 1
c

Mohrs Circle of
Stress
I. Draw Mohr Circle Sign of Shear Stress is
based on the rotation of y
1- Locate Points A & B the shear
2- Connect Points A & B with a xy
stright line
+
3- Line A B intersects axis n at the x
center of the circle (o)
x

4- Usin your Compass, draw a circle xy

with a radius = OA.

5- Mohr circle will intersects (+) (-)

n axis at pints 1 and 2. y
(+ x, + xy)
6- 1 and 2 represent the major B
and minor principal stresses. + xy
2 Center y 1
7- Determine the magnitudes of 1 x O
- xy n
and 2.
A (+ y, - xy )

x
y

-
II. Establishing the Pole on the y
Circle

7- Determine the orintation of the plane at

+ xy
which + y and - xy are acting (Horizontal)

8- Draw a line from point (+ y, - xy ) x x

on Mohr Circle parallel to the plane
( // )
xy
9- Determine the orintation of the plane at
which + y and + xy are acting (Vertical)

10- Draw a line from point (+ y, - xy ) y

on Mohr Circle parallel to the plane (+ x, + xy)
(/// )

2 1 n
11- Extend the two lines (//) and (///)
so that they intersect on the circumference of
Mohr Circle.
Pole (+ y , - xy )
12- This intersection represents the POLE

x
y

-
III. Establishing the
Directions of the Principal
y
Stresses ()
xy
13- From the Pole extend two
lines. One through 1 and
+
another through 2. x x
14- The directions of these two
lines represents .
xy

y
x,
xy

2
2 1 n

Pole y,
xy

1
x
y

-
 1 y

xy
+
2
x x
2
xy

x, y 1
xy

2
2 1 n

Pole y,
xy

1
x
y

-
 Mohr circle Pole Method

+
n
n

(+ n, + n)
Pole X

A (+ x, + xy)

+ xy
2 Center 1
n
O
- xy
(+ y, - xy )
B

x
y

-
Example
;