SOIL MECHANICS/GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I

SHEAR STRENGTH

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR

1
SHEAR STRENGTH y P2
P1
P3

A
x

P4
Pn

P5
(a)
σy

τyx
m τxy(ΔAcosθ) σnΔAn
ΔAn
τxy σx(ΔAncosθ) θ
A
σx θ
σx
θ τxy τΔAn
n
τxy(ΔAnsinθ)
τyx
σy(ΔAnsinθ)

σy

(b) (c)

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 2
SHEAR STRENGTH
Mohr circle of Stress: Te expression for the normal and shear stresses
cam be represented graphically by a useful device known as Mohr’s
circle for stress. It can be shown that locus of state of stress at any
point is a circle. Squaring expression of and and rearranging the
terms one can get

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 3
SHEAR STRENGTH

The expression is an equation of circle with center at

and radius equal to

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 4
SHEAR STRENGTH
Steps in construction of Mohr Circles:

The normal stresses are plotted as horizontal

coordinates. The tensile stresses are
considered positive (plotted right to the
origin); the compressive stresses are
considered negative (plotted to the left of he
origin). In soil mechanics compressive
stresses are taken positive

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 5
SHEAR STRNGTH

The shear stresses are plotted as vertical

coordinates. Positive shear stresses are
Body (+)

plotted above the origin and negative

shear stresses are plotted below the
Body (−)
origin.

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 6
SHEAR STRENGTH
The positive angles on the circle are
obtained when measured in the
counterclockwise sense; negative on
the circle are obtained in the clockwise
sense. An angle of 2θ on the circle
corresponds to an angle θ on the
element

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 7
SHEAR STRENGTH
Figure shows the Mohr’s circle for the
assumed stresses at the stressed point
assuming σx>σy>0. The normal and shear
stresses on vertical plane P give the
coordinates of one point on the circle, as
indicated as D. Plane R also vertical and
180 deg from P, is located at 2θ =360 deg
on the circle from P resulting in the same
point on the circle. Similarly the stresses
on the horizontal planes Q and S plot a
different single point E
DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 8
SHEAR STRENGTH

This shows that the stresses on parallel

planes of an element oriented at any
angle are correspondingly equal. The
point of intersection of the line DE
connecting these two points and the
horizontal axis σn gives the location of
the center of the circle. The diameter of
the circle is DE.

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 9
SHEAR STRENGTH
The maximum shear stress is apparent to be
equal to the radius of the circle. The
orientation of this stress with respect to the
original plane can either be measured or
calculated with the help of trigonometry. The
principal stresses σmax and σmin can likewise
be spotted and determined easily, and
orientation can easily be measured or
calculated. Furthermore, on the principal
planes the shear stresses are zero

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 10
SHEAR STRENGTH

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR
SHEAR STRENGTH
A number of additional basic relationships which can be obtained from Mohr’s
circle:

The maximum shear stress is equal to the radius of the circle. Furthermore the
maximum shear stresses are on planes that makes an angle 45 deg with the
principal plane

The resultant stress on any plane has a magnitude of and its angle of
obliquity is equal to

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 12
SHEAR STRENGTH

The maximum angle of obliquity is constructed

by the line OT such that the line is tangent to the
circle at point T. Correspondingly, the stresses,
normal and shear, that correspond to point T on
the circle represent the stresses on the plane of
maximum obliquity. It may be noted that shear
stress on this plane is less than . Thus it may
further be noted that the slippage occurs at the
point of maximum obliquity and not at the angle
where

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 13
SHEAR STRENGTH

DILIP KUMAR BAIDYA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEEING
IIT KHARAGPUR 14
15