1

MACHINE DESIGN
6 THEORIES OF FAILURE

1. 2
The theory of failure used in designing the
(c) 4 (d) 6
[ESE : 2002]

7
ductile materials in a most accurate way is by
1. maximum principal stress theory 6. A rod with cross-sectional area 100  106 m2
2. distortion energy theory
1
is subjected to a tensile load. Based on the
3. maximum strain theory Tresca failure criterion, if the uniaxial yield
Select the correct answer using the code given stress of the material is 200 MPa, the failure
below. load is
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 only (a) 10 kN (b) 20 kN
(c) 2 only (d) 3 only (c) 100 kN (d) 200 kN
[IES – 2019] [ESE : 2001]

2. Who postulated the maximum distortion 7. A circular solid shaft is subjected to bending
energy theory? moment of 400 kN-m and a twisting moment
of 300 kN-m. One the basis of the maximum
(a) Tresca (b) Rankine
principal stress theory, the direct stress is 
(c) St. Venant (d) Mises-Henky
and according to the maximum shear stress
[ESE : 2008] theory, the shear stress is . The ratio  /  is
3. Disruptive strength is the maximum strength of (a) 1/5 (b) 3/9
a metal, when (c) 9/5 (d) 11/6
(a) subjected to 3 principal tensile stresses at [ESE : 2000]
right angles to one another and of equal
8. Which one of the following figures represents
magnitude
(b) loaded in tension the maximum shear stress theory or TRESCA
(c) loaded in compression criterion?
2 2
(d) loaded in shear
[ESE : 2006]
(a) (b) 1
1
4. The maximum distortion energy theory of
failure is suitable to predict the failure of
2
which one of the following types of materials?
2
(a) Brittle materials
(b) Ductile materials
(c) 1 (d) 1
(c) Plastics
(d) Composite materials
[ESE : 2004] [ESE : 1999]
5. A cold rolled steel shaft is designed on the
9. According to the maximum shear stress theory
basis of maximum shear stress theory. The
of failure, permissible twisting moment in a
principal stresses induced at its critical section
are 60 MPa and -60 MPa respectively. If the circular shaft is T. The permissible twisting
yield stress for the shaft material is 360 MPa, moment in the same shaft as per the maximum
the factor of safety of the design is principal stress theory of failure will be
(a) T/2 (b) T
(a) 2 (b) 3
(c) 2T (d) 2T
 Theories of Failure 2

[ESE : 1998] (d) Maximum distortion energy theory

[ESE : 1996]
10. Match List-I (Failure theories) with List-II
(Figure representing boundaries of these 12. Permissible bending moment in a circular shaft
theories) and select the correct answer using under pure bending is M according to
codes given below the lists: maximum principal stress theory of failure the
List-I List-II permissible bending moment in the same shaft
A. Max. principal stress 1. as per maximum shear stress theory of failure
2
theory is
(a) 1/2 M
1
(b) M
(c) M
B. Max. shear stress 2.
theory 2 (d) 2 M
[ESE : 1995]
1

C. Max. octahedral shear 3.

stress theory 2

1

D. Max. shear strain 4.

energy theory 2

1

Codes:
A B C D
(a) 2 1 3 4
(b) 2 4 3 1
(c) 4 2 3 1
(d) 2 4 1 3
[ESE : 1997]

11. If shaft made from ductile material is subjected

to combined bending and twisting moments.
Calculations based on which one of the
following failure theories would give the most
conservative value?

(a) Maximum principal stress theory

(b) Maximum shear stress theory
(c) Maximum strain energy theory
 Theories of Failure 3

ANSWER-KEY
1. (c) 4. (b) 7. (c) 10. (b)

2. (d) 5. (b) 8. (c) 11. (b)

3. (a) 6. (b) 9. (d) 12. (b)