School of Engineering

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY

Solid Mechanics

3D Stress and Strain Tutorial Sheet

Question 1

a) The following strains exist in a three dimensional system. Determine the equivalent
stresses acting at the point. Take E = 206 GN/m2 and ν = 0.3.
xx = 1000 μ, yy = 500 μ, zz = 700 μ, xy = 200 μ, zx = 800 μ, yz = 1000 μ

b) The following Cartesian stresses act at a point in a body which is subjected to a

complex loading system. Determine equivalent strains present in the body.
Take E = 206x109 N/m2 and ν = 0.3
σxx = 225x106 N/m2 σyy = 75x106 N/m2 σzz = 150x106 N/m2
τxy = 110x106 N/m2 τyz = 50x106 N/m2 τzx = 70x106 N/m2

c) The Cartesian stress components at a point are given below.

σxx=-40x106 N/m2 σyy=80x106 N/m2 σzz=120x106 N/m2
τxy=72x106 N/m2 τyz=46x106 N/m2 τzx=32x106 N/m2

Calculate normal stress and shear stress on a plane whose normal makes an angle of
48° with x-axis and 61° with y-axis.

Question 2

The stress tensor in MPa for a three-dimensional system for some x, y z axis system is

𝟑𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎
[𝟏𝟎 𝟎 𝟐𝟎]
𝟏𝟎 𝟐𝟎 𝟎
(a) Confirm that one of the principal stresses is 40 MN/m2, find the other principal stresses
and the direction cosines of the planes on which they act.

(b) What angles does the x-axis make with the three principal directions?
Question 3

The stress tensor for a three-dimensional system for some x, y z axis system is

𝟗𝟎 𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎
[𝛔] = [𝟑𝟎 𝟔𝟎 𝟑𝟎] MPa
𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎 𝟑𝟎

(a) Find the normal and shear stress on a plane whose normal makes an angle of 40° with x-
axis and 60° with y-axis. Also give the direction cosines for the shear stress on the plane.

(c) Find the principal stresses for the stress tensor.

(d) What angles does the y-axis make with the first principal direction?

(e) What is the factor of safety based on this stress tensor using the von Mises criterion if the
yield stress of the material is 250 MPa?

Question 4

The state of stress in a steel component at the critical location for the maximum load
condition has been determined as follows, with respect to some x, y, z axis system.

σxx = 10.9 MN/m2 σyy = 51.9 MN/m2 σzz = -27.8 MN/m2

τxy = -41.3 MN/m2 τyz = -8.9 MN/m2 τzx = 38.5 MN/m2

The yield stress for the steel is 400 MN/m2. A safety factor of 3 is required for the design.

(a) Does the component pass the design requirement according to the Maximum Principal
Stress criterion? Justify your answer with a calculation.

(b) Does the component pass the design requirement according to the Maximum Shear Stress
criterion? Justify your answer with a calculation.

(c) Does the component pass the design requirement according to the von Mises criterion?
Justify your answer with a calculation.