Theme

2: Mohr diagram

Exercise 2 – Mathematical demonstration of the existence of principal

stresses
a) Retrieve in the lesson the formula for the transformation of stresses from the coordinates (x,y) to
(x’,y’). Could you demonstrate the formula? Cf document on stress rotation:

σ x' x' = σ xx cos 2 (θ ) + σ yy sin 2 (θ ) + σ xy sin( 2θ ) (i)

σ y' y' = σ xx sin 2 (θ ) + σ yy cos 2 (θ ) − σ xy sin( 2θ ) (ii)
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σ x' y' = (σ yy − σ xx ) sin( 2θ ) + σ xy cos( 2θ ) (iii)
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b) Is there an angle of rotation for which σx’y’=0? In that case, how would be called the axes x’ and y’?
1 σ xy 1 ⎛1 σ ⎞
σ x' y' = 0 ⇔ tan(2θ ) = ⇔ θ = arctan⎜⎜
xy
⎟⎟ [+nπ ]
2 σ xx−σ yy 2 ⎝ 2 σ xx−σ yy ⎠
x’ and y’ are principal stress direction.

c) For which angle σx’y’=0? Compare with the graphical results of exercise 3.
Yes. See computation of equation 2. The intermediate result corresponds to the Mohr diagram of
exercise 3.

Exercise 3 – Graphical demonstration of the existence of principal stresses

⎛σ xx σ xy ⎞
Let’s suppose a stress tensor ⎜ ⎟ . In all generality, we suppose that the coefficients are positive.
⎝σ yx σ yy ⎠
a) We suppose the torque balance (for which rare conditions is it not the case?). What is then the
relationship between σxy and σyx? σxy= σyx (torque balance)
b) Determine the forces applied on a square whose faces are 1cm wide and are parallel to the x, y, z
axes.

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c) We consider the top face (AB) of the square. What is the surface vector of this face? What are the
normal and tangential stress applied on this face? Put them on a Mohr diagram (we suppose that the
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unitary vector e y is at an angle θ from the direction of σ1).
This is a summary of the stress applying on the top side. On the
left are the sign convention for (σ1,τ), on the right, are the
actual forces inducted by the stress field.

σn= σyy
τ= σxy

d) We now consider the left face of the square. What is the surface vector of this face? What are the
normal stress and tangential stress applied on this face? Put them on a Mohr diagram and show that
there is an angle of rotation for which the tangential stress is null.

Rotate your head by 90° counter clockwise, and you will see the
following figure for the left side. On the left are the sign
convention for (σ1,τ), on the right, are the actual forces induced
by the stress field.

σn= σxx
τ= -σxy

The vector normal to the surface has been rotated by

90°. This corresponds to an angle of 180° in the Mohr
diagram. During this rotation, the shear stress passed
from σxy to -σxy and changed its sign. Hence, there is
an angle for which τ=0. This angle corresponds to the
principal stress directions.

Exercise 4 – Construction of a Mohr circle in the principal stress coordinates

a) Assuming that σxy=0, show that the normal stress σn and the shear stress τ on a plane defined by a
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normal n in the (Oxy) plane are
σ xx + σ yy σ xx − σ yy σ xx − σ yy
σn = + cos 2θ ; τ= sin 2θ
2 2 2
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where θ is the angle between the x-axis and n . Show that in the (σn,τ) plane, the above equation
defines a circle (Mohr’s circle).
Solution 1), use the equation of exercise 2 with σxy=0
Solution 2), build the Mohr circle. The Mohr circle has a center
⎛ σ xx + σ yy ⎞
at the point of coordinates ⎜σ n = ;τ = 0 ⎟ ,
⎝ 2 ⎠
σ xx − σ yy
and a radius R = .
2

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b) In the previous question, how would you call σxx and σyy ?
Principal stress directions
c) Draw the Mohr circle. Give a graphical description of σn, τ, 2
θ, θ, σxx, σyy. See the diagram above and the associated sign
convention representation on the right.
If σxx>σyy hence σxx=σ1 and σyy=σ3.

Exercise 5 – Construction of a Mohr circle from the full stress tensor

⎛σ xx σ xy ⎞
Suppose you know the full stress tensor ⎜ ⎟ . The directions (Ox) and (Oy) are not necessary
⎝σ yx σ yy ⎠
the principal directions. Suppose that (Ox) is at undetermined angle θ relative to the maximum stress
direction.
a) Take the surface with the normal equal to (Ox), what are its shear and normal stresses? Put
them on the Mohr circle.
We remind of our stress convention.

! !
Let zoom at the right side, whose normal is n = ex . We find the following loading (sign convention are
also given on the left side of the diagram below.)

Hence σn= σxx and τ= -σxy

b) Take the surface with the normal equal to (Oy), what are its shear and normal stresses? Put
them on the Mohr circle.
! !
Let zoom at the top side, whose normal is n = ey . We find the following loading (sign convention
are also given on the left side of the diagram below.). Hence σn= σyy and τ=σxy

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 c) Retrieve the principal stresses.
The top side has an angle π/2=90° relative to the right side. Hence, in the Mohr diagram, it has an
angle π=180° compared to the point (σn, τ)right of the right side. The two points of the Mohr diagram
(σn, τ)right and (σn, τ)top are located on a diameter of the Mohr circle.

⎛ σ xx + σ yy ⎞
The center of the Mohr circle has the coordinates ⎜ , 0⎟.
⎝ 2 ⎠
The diameter is the distance between the two points (σn, τ)right and (σn, τ)top. The radius is computed
⎛ σ xx − σ yy ⎞2
with the Pythagoras theorem R = ⎜ ⎟ + σ xy .
2
⎝ 2 ⎠

⎛ σ xx + σ yy ⎞ ⎛ σ xx − σ yy ⎞2
We get the principal stresses values as σ 1 = x centre + R = ⎜ ⎟+ ⎜ ⎟ + σ xy
2
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠

⎛ σ xx + σ yy ⎞ ⎛ σ xx − σ yy ⎞2
and σ 3 = x centre − R = ⎜ ⎟− ⎜ ⎟ + σ xy .
2
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
The angle α between (Ox) and the maximum principal stress direction1 is computed with
⎛ ⎞
σ xy 1 ⎜ σ ⎟
xy
tan 2α = ⇒ α = arctan⎜ ⎟.
σ xx − σ yy 2 ⎜⎜ xx σ yy
σ − ⎟⎟
2 ⎝ 2 ⎠
Note: you could also have used the “big equations” but computation would have been less
straightforward.

Exercise 6 – Construction of a Mohr circle from the stress on a known plane

Suppose you know the normal stress σn and the shear stress τ applied on a surface with an angle θ
relative to (Ox). We consider only a 2D stress.
a) Do we have enough information to get the full stress tensor (how many components do you need?
How many data do you have?). No. We have only 2 components of the stress tensor, whereas a full
stress tensor in 2D has 3 components.

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Here α=−θ, where is the angle between the direction considered and the maximum principal stress direction.
We used a different notation to avoid confusion.

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b) We add the information that (Ox) is the maximum principal stress direction. Deduce the values of
the principal stresses (there is an analytical and a geometrical method).
Now the problem is fully determined. We can plot the Mohr diagram.

τ τ
The radius R can be computed from sin 2θ = ⇒R= .
R sin 2θ
⎛ τ ⎞
The center of the Mohr circle has the coordinates (σ n − R cos 2θ , 0) = ⎜σ n − , 0⎟ .
⎝ tan 2θ ⎠
The maximum principal stress direction is computed as
1− cos2θ
σ 1 = x centre + R = σ n − Rcos2θ + R = σ n + τ.
sin2θ
The minimum principal stress direction is computed as
1+ cos2θ
σ 3 = xcentre − R = σ n − Rcos2θ − R = σ n − τ.
sin2θ

d) We come back to question (a). Show on a Mohr diagram the effect of a rotation by 90°.
A rotation by π/2=90° implies an addition of π=180° to 2θ. Hence, we then visit the other point at the
opposite of the Mohr circle. We can then plot a diameter of the Mohr circle.

Exercise 7 – Stress applied on a plane.

⎛σ xx σ xy ⎞
Suppose you know the full stress tensor ⎜ ⎟ . What is the normal stress and tangential stress
⎝σ yx σ yy ⎠
applied on a plane? (Hint: draw the problem and set your conventions. Exercise 4 partly solves the
problem.)

! !
We define a plane by its normal vector n . Let call ϕ the angle between n and (Ox) (we avoid the
notation θ because (Ox) is not a priori a principal stress direction).

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From exercise 5, we build the Mohr diagram from the full stress tensor

that we adapt to our problem. Especially we recognize the angle ϕ in the diagram below:

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The angle θ between the maximum principal stress direction σ1 and the normal vector n is computed
as θ=ϕ−α, where α is the same as in exercise 5. We get
⎛ ⎛ ⎞⎞
σ xx + σ yy ⎛ σ xx − σ yy ⎞ 2 ⎜ ⎜ σ ⎟⎟
σ1 + σ 3
+ R cos( 2(ϕ − α )) = ⎟ + σ xy cos⎜ 2ϕ − arctan⎜ ⎟⎟
xy
σn = + ⎜ 2
2 2 ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎜ ⎜⎜ xx σ yy
σ − ⎟⎟⎟
⎜ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠
⎛ ⎛ ⎞⎞
⎛ σ xx − σ yy ⎞2 ⎜ ⎜ σ ⎟⎟
τ = R sin( 2(ϕ − α )) = ⎜ ⎟ + σ xy sin⎜ 2ϕ − arctan⎜ ⎟⎟
2 xy

⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎜ ⎜⎜ σ xx − σ yy ⎟⎟⎟
⎜ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠
These large equations are easy to derive from the geometrical method of Mohr circle. It would have
been more tedious to derive it from the purely numerical method.

Exercise 8 – Stress applied on a plane (from a 2009 exam)

Un séisme perturbe durablement le champ de contraintes autour de lui. Ce chargement pourrait
expliquer le phénomène de réplique d’un séisme. Nous allons voir comment l’ajout d’une contrainte
perturbe les directions principales de contraintes. Pour faire simple, nous allons seulement travailler en
2 dimensions.

a) Prenons un carré disposé selon les directions principales de contraintes σ10 et σ30. Sur chaque face
du carré (AB), (BC), (CD) et (DA), donner les contraintes normales et tangentielles. Reporter sur ces
valeurs sur le diagramme de Mohr correspondant. Tracer le cercle de Mohr.
y
σ30
A B
σ
σ10 σ10 z
n
> x
0

D 6 C
σ30
 0
Face AB : σn= σ3 and τ=0
0
Face BC : σn= σ1 and τ=0
0
Face CD : σn= σ3 and τ=0
0
Face DA : σn= σ1 and τ=0

b) Un séisme charge le système. Il rajoute une contrainte cisaillante σxy = τ (on la supposera positive
avec nos conventions). Donner les nouvelles contraintes normales et tangentielles sur chaque face du
carré. Dessiner le nouveau cercle de Mohr.

The new stress applying on each face is given by the figure of the square below:

We then compare to our stress sign conventions:

We get :
0
Face AB : σn= σ3 and τ= σxy
0
Face BC : σn= σ1 and τ=-σxy
0
Face CD : σn= σ3 and τ= σxy
0
Face DA : σn= σ1 and τ=-σxy

After a rotation of 90°, (BC)

gives (AB). Hence, on the Mohr
diagram, the two faces will give
two points located on the same
diameter, as in the figure on the right.

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c) En déduire les valeurs des nouvelles contraintes principales σ1 et σ3.

The Mohr circle has changed (former Mohr circle in green, new Mohr circle in red). The circle is
⎛σ 0 + σ 0 ⎞
defined by its center, of coordinates ⎜ 1 3
, 0⎟ , and its radius R. The radius R is computed with the
⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ σ 0 − σ 0 ⎞2
Pythagoras formula: R = ⎜ 1 2
⎟ + σ xy
2
. We find the new principal stresses amplitudes:
⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ σ 0 + σ 0 ⎞ ⎛ σ 0 − σ 0 ⎞2 ⎛ σ 0 + σ 0 ⎞ ⎛ σ 0 − σ 0 ⎞2
σ 1 = x centre − R = ⎜ 1 3
⎟+ ⎜ 1 3
⎟ + σ xy and σ 3 = x centre − R = ⎜ 1
2 3
⎟− ⎜ 1 3
⎟ + σ xy
2
.
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠

d) Indiquer graphiquement comment retrouver les nouvelles directions principales de contraintes.

We introduce the angle α, the angle between (Ox) and the maximum principal stress direction σ1. (We
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have α=−θ, where θ is the Mohr angle between the maximum principal stress direction σ1 and ex ).
The angle 2α is determined graphically with the Mohr angle.

e) Une face glissera d’autant plus facilement que sa contrainte normale est faible et que sa contrainte
tangentielle est forte. Des faces (AB), (BC), (CD) et (DA), lesquelles sont les plus exposées à un
glissement ?

For AB and CD, |τ/σn|=σxy/σ30. For BC and DA, |τ/σn|=σxy/σ10. As σ10>σ30, hence |τ/σn|(AB)>|τ/σn|(BC),
and slip would preferentially happen on face (AB) or (CD).