CIVL4760

Lecture 2: Mohr Circle Stress

Analysis

Prof. Gang Wang

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

March 5, 2019
Stress State in 2D and 3D
Matrix notation of the stress tensor

 xx  xy  xz 
 
 yx  yy  yz 
 zx  zy  zz 


By convention, compression
Right-handed is positive (Geomechanics
coordinate system Sign Convention)
 Principal Stresses

2

3
1

Three principal stresses

(orthogonal)

 xx  xy  xz   1 0 0
  0  
 yx  yy  yz 
 2 0 
 zx  zy  zz   0 0  3 

 Stress Transformation

 y' y'
Use Geomechanics Sign Convention  x'x'
y'  y'x'
A’
B’
 x' y'  x' y'
 y'x'
 y' y' x'
 x'x'
 x' y' 
Mohr Circle – Sign Convention

A
Positive Stresses
B


A
𝜎𝑦𝑥
Sign Convention (only for Mohr circle):
(+)
(1) Normal stresses are considered POSITIVE 𝜎𝑥𝑥
𝜎𝑦𝑦
if they are COMPRESSIVE
(−)

(2) A shear stress is considered POSITIVE if
it is COUNTERCLOCKWISE (right
hand rule!)
B
 Mohr Circle: representing the same stress at a
point in different coordinates
A’

A A

B
 2

2


B
B’  y' y'
𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦  x'x'
y'  y'x'
2 A’
B’
 x' y'  x' y'

 y'x'
 y' y' x'
 x'x'
 x' y' 

Mohr-Circle: find the pole
The point on the Mohr
circle called the POLE or
Origin of Planes has a
special property:

Any straight line drawn

𝜎1
through the POLE will
𝜎2
intersect the Mohr circle at a
point which represents the
𝜎2 state of stress on a plan
inclined at the same
𝜎1 orientation in space as the
line.
The principal stresses

 xx   yy     yy 
2

 1,2    xy2   xx 
2  2 
Example 1

• Known: stresses on an
element ( 1 ,  3 )
• Required: stresses on
inclined plane of   35o
Example 1


A
40
B
30

20

• Plot stress on
10
plane A and B;
construct the 0 B
Mohr circle 0 10 20 30 40 50 A 60 n
through A and B. -10

-20
 Example 1 Hint:
(1) If you draw a horizontal line through the
pole, it will pass A
(2) If you draw a vertical line through the pole,
it will pass B.

A Where is the Pooh?
40
B
30

20

10

• Find the “pole”. 0 B

0 10
Pole
20 30 40 50 A 60 n
-10

-20
 Example 1


40

30

20
(39,18.6)

10

• Find the stress   35o

0
on any direction 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 n
through the pole. Pole
-10

-20
 Example 1


40

30

20
(39,18.6)

10

• Interpret the   35o

0
stresses using 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 n
sign convention. Pole
-10

-20
 Example 1


40

30

20

10

• Stress state on
0
any arbitrary 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 n
plane Pole
-10

-20
Example 2

• Known: stresses on an
element ( 1 ,  3 )
• Required: stresses on
inclined plane of   35o
Example 2

A

40
B

30

20

• Plot stress on
10
plane A and B;
construct the 0 B
Mohr circle 0 10 20 30 40 50 A 60 n
through A and B. -10

-20
Example 2
The SAME solution as Example 1

A

40
B

30

20
(39,18.6)

• Blue line pass 10 Pole

through point A and
pole; 0 B
• Orange line passes 0 10 20 30 40 50 A 60 n
through point B and -10
pole
• Where is the pole?
-20
Example 3
Given:
Stress shown on the element in the left
A figure

C B Determine:
• Stresses on incline plane C (𝛼 = 30°);
• Principal stresses and direction
• Maximum shear and direction
Example 3

A

B 4

2 A (6,2)

n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Plot stress on
plane A and B; B -2
construct the (-4, -2)
Mohr circle -4
through A and B.
Example 3

A

B 4

Pole 2 A (6,2)

n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Blue line pass
through point A and B -2
pole; (-4, -2)
• Orange line passes -4
through point B and
pole
• Where is the pole?
Example 3

C (1.8,5.3)
A

B 4
C

Pole 2 A (6,2)
(-4, 2)
n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6

• Stresses on inclined
B -2
plane C; (-4, -2)

-4
  1  6.4
Example 3
3 
 4.4

A 11°

B 4

Pole
2 A (6,2)
(-4, 2)

1  n
3 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

• Principal stresses
B -2
and direction (-4, -2)
h v   v 
2

 1,2     h
2
 -4
2  2 
6  (4)  4  6 
2

  (2) 2   
2  2 
 6.4 (or  4.4)
Example 3

shear stress is maximum

Pole 2 A (6,2)

n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6

• Maximum shear
B -2
and direction (-4, -2)

-4
Example 4
Two planes, A and B, are separated by an
unknown angle 𝜃.
On plane A, 𝜎𝑎 =10 kPa, 𝜏𝑎 = +2 kPa.
A Plane A lies 15° from the horizontal, as
shown in the figure. The stress on plane B
are 𝜎𝑏 =9 kPa, 𝜏𝑏 = −3 kPa.

H Determine:
• Major and minor principal stresses and
their orientation
Plane B ? • Stresses on horizontal plane H;
• Find the angle between planes A and B.
 Example 4


A

Pole

H 𝜃 = 46° A (10, 2)

n
Plane B ?

Determine:
B (9, -3)
• Principal stresses and direction
• Stresses on horizontal plane H;
Plane B
• Angle between planes A and B.
 Example 4


A

n
Plane B ?

Determine:
• Principal stresses and direction
• Stresses on horizontal plane H;
• Angle between planes A and B.
Example 5 The stress on an element is known
Determine:
• The magnitude and direction of
principal stresses

X (4, 2)

Where is Pole? Y (8, -2)

Example 5 The stress on an element is known
Determine:
• Principal stresses and direction
Example 6 (Triaxial Compression)
1

3

 45o   / 2
3 1 σ