Combined Loading

The stresses caused by axial forces, torques, and bending loads have now been
analyzed. There are situations, however, where all three types of loading are present. An
efficient method to account for more than one load is to calculate the normal and shearing
stresses acting at a point of interest on planes normal and tangential to the applied loads, and
then use Mohr’s circle to calculate the maximum and minimum stresses acting at that point on
planes oriented at some angle. Such maximum stresses lead to failure in machine and structural
components.

The procedure follows several general steps providing the proportional limit of the
material is not exceeded so that superposition is allowed (the material must remain in the
elastic range so that there is a linear relationship between stress and deformation). The steps
are

1. Draw a free-body diagram of the member of interest.

2. Pass a section through the point of interest where the maximum stresses are
anticipated.
3. Use the equations of equilibrium to find the forces and moments acting on the
section containing the point of interest.
4. Calculate the normal and shearing stresses at the point of interest using the
formulas already developed.
5. Normal stresses from axial and bending loads are added, and shearing stresses from
torsion and vertical shear loads are added on an element located at the point of
interest
6. Mohr’s circle (or the equations) can then be used to find the maximum and
minimum normal and shearing stresses at the selected point, and the planes on
which they act.

Exercises/ Drills:

1. A hollow cylindrical shell of outer radius 140 mm and inner radius 125 mm is subject to
an axial compressive force of 168 kN and a torque of 35 kN · m. Determine the principal
stresses and the maximum shearing stress acting in the shell. One end is rigidly attached
to a wall.
Solution: The axial compressive stress is
P P 168,000 N
σ= = = =13.5 MPa
A π ( R2−r 2) π ( 1402−1252 ) mm2
The shearing stress
Tρ Tρ 35,000,000 N ∙ m m ( 140 mm )
τ= = = =22.3 MPa
J π 4 4 π 4 4 4
( D −d ) ( 280 −250 ) mm
32 32

The stresses are displayed on an element in Fig. 7-31, and on Mohr’s circle in Fig. 7-32.
The principal stresses and maximum shearing stress are
 −13.5
σ max /min = ± √ 6.752+ 22.32=16.6 MPa∧−30.0 MPa
2
τ max= √ 6.75 +22.32=23.3 MPa
2