Theories of Failures

Introduction
A number of failure theories have been proposed to explain the ways

components manufactured from different types of materials fail that covers all
types of loading. One complication is that some materials have a greater strength
in compression than in tension. Although the main criteria are summarised
below, only the following are widely used:
von Mises failure criterion - applicabe to ductile materials (most Finite

element stress analysis packages calculate von Mises stresses - manual
calculation can be tedious).
Maximum Shear stress criterion - also applicable to ductile materials, but
slightly conservative compared to the von Mises criterion, but usually
easier to calculate manually.
Maximum principal stress criterion - applies to brittle materials.
The Maximum - Normal - Stress Theory (Rankine)

Failure occurs when one of the three principal stresses equals the strength.
Assuming then failure occurs when or
where St is the tensile strength and Sc is the compressive strength.
This criteria is often used when designing with brittle materials such as concrete
or some cast irons.
The Maximum Normal - Strain - Theory (Also called St Venant's theory)

Applies only in the elastic range. States yielding occurs when the largest of the 3
principal strains becomes equal to the strain corresponding to the yield strength.
If it is assumed that the yield strength in tension and compression are equal,
conditions for yielding are:
The Maximum - Shear - Stress Theory (Tresca)

States that yielding begins when the maximum shear stress becomes equal to the
maximum shear stress in a tension test specimen of the same material when that
specimen begins to yield.
or
This theory also predicts that the yield strength in shear is
For principal stresses:
etc
Decompose the three normal principal stresses into the components -
etc so these equal stresses are called hydrostatic

components.
If then the three shear stresses would all be zero and there could
be no yielding - regardless of the hydrostatic stress. The magnitude of the
hydrostatic stress has no effect on the size of the Mohr circle, but move it along
the normal stress axis.
This criteria may be used when designing with ductile materials (most
commonly used metals) but gives somewhat conservative designs for some
combinations of loadings.
Maximum Strain Energy Theorem

Suggests failure by yielding occurs when the total strain energy per unit volume
reaches or exceeds the strain energy in the same volume corresponding to the
yield strength in tension or compression.
se / unit vol. when stressed uniaxially to yield: us = Sy2/2E, Energy in a unit vol.
subject to combined stresses:
This is not much used presently.
The von Mises Theory (also known as the maximum distortion energy theory.
This gives the same result as the von Mises-Hencky theory or the octahedral
shear stress theory).
This states that yielding will occur when the distortion energy in a unit vol.
equals the distortion energy in a unit vol. when uniaxially stressed to the yield
strength. This was derived from the observation that yielding is not affected by a
volume change caused by compression, so may be related to the angular
distortion of a stressed element. With some algebra, the effective or von Mises
stress is defined by:
vms =
and yielding occurs when vms Sy

This criterion is commonly used when designing with ductile metals - it gives a
better fit to experimental data than the Tresca criterion.
Theories of Failure
1. Maximum Principal Stress theory (RANKINE’S THEORY)
2. Maximum Shear Stress theory (GUEST AND TRESCA’S THEORY)
3. Maximum Principal Strain theory (St. VENANT’S THEORY)
4. Total Strain Energy theory (HAIGH’S THEORY)
5. Maximum Distortion Energy theory (VONMISES AND HENCKY’S THEORY)
Maximum Principal Stress Theory (MPST)
According to MPST, failure occurs when the value of maximum principal stress is equal to that of yield
point stress.
Condition for failure is,
Maximum principal stress (σ) > failure stresses (Syt)
Condition for safe design,
Maximum principal stress ≤ Permissible stress
Syt
where, permissible stress = failure stress / Factor of Safety =
N
Syt
σ≤
N
NOTE:
 This theory is suitable for brittle materials under all loading conditions (bi axial, tri axial etc.)
because brittle materials are weak in tension.
 This theory is not suitable for ductile materials because ductile materials are weak in shear.
 This theory can be suitable for ductile materials when state of stress condition such that
maximum shear stress is less than or equal to maximum principal stress i.e.
1. Uniaxial state of stress( τmax=σ2)
2. Biaxial loading when principal stresses are like in nature. ( τmax=σ2)
3. Under hydrostatic stress condition (shear stress in all the planes is zero).
Maximum Shear Stress Theory (MSST)
According to this theory, failure occurs when maximum shear stress at any point reaches the yield
strength.
τmax≤SysN=Syt2N
For tri-axial state of stress,

Max{|σ1−σ22|,|σ2−σ32|,|σ3−σ12|} ≤ Syt2N
For bi-axial state of stress,

Max{|σ1−σ22|,|σ22|,|σ12|} ≤ Syt2N
NOTE:
 This theory is well suitable for ductile materials.
 MSST and MPST will give same results for ductile materials under uniaxial state of stress and
biaxial state of stress when principal stresses are like in nature.
 MSST is not suitable for hydrostatic loading.
Maximum Principal Strain theory (M P St T)
According to this theory, failure occurs when maximum principal strain reaches strain at which yielding
occurs in simple tension.
ε1≤SytEN
1E[σ1−μ(σ2+σ3)]≤SytEN
for biaxial state of stress, σ3 = 0

σ1−μ(σ2)≤SytN
Total Strain Energy theory (T St E T)
According to this theory, failure occurs when total strain energy per volume is equal to strain energy
per volume at yield point in simple tension.
Total Strain Energy per unit volume ≤ Strain energy per unit volume at yield point under tension test.
Total Strain Energy per unit volume = 12σ1ε1 + 12σ2ε2 + 12σ3ε3
ε1=1E[σ1−μ(σ2+σ3)]
ε2=1E[σ2−μ(σ1+σ3)]
ε3=1E[σ3−μ(σ2+σ1)]
we get,
TSEVol=12E[σ21+σ22+σ23−2μ(σ1σ2+σ2σ3+σ3σ1)]
TSEVol]Y.P.=12E(SytN)2
[σ21+σ22+σ23−2μ(σ1σ2+σ2σ3+σ3σ1)]≤(SytN)2
for bi axial case σ3=0,
σ21+σ22−2μσ1σ2≤(SytN)2
Above Equation is an equation of ellipse whose semi major axis is Syt1−μ√ and minor axis is Syt1+μ√
NOTE: This theory is suitable for hydrostatic stress condition
Maximum Distortion Energy Theory (M D E T)
According to this theory, failure occurs when strain energy of distortion per volume is equal to strain
energy of distortion per unit volume at yield point in simple tension.
Total strain energy/Vol = Volumetric strain energy/vol + distortion energy / volume
Volumetric Strain Eenrgy /vol = 12 (average stress)(Volumetric strain)
VolSE/Vol=12σ1+σ2+σ33[1−2μE(σ1+σ2+σ3)]=1−2μ6E(σ1+σ2+σ3)2
DE/vol = TSE/vol - Vol SE/vol
DE/vol=1+μ6E[(σ1−σ2)2+(σ2−σ3)2+(σ3−σ1)2]
DE/vol]YP=1+μ6E[2(SytN)2]
DE/vol≤DE/vol]YP
[(σ1−σ2)2+(σ2−σ3)2+(σ3−σ1)2]≤2(SytN)2
for bi axial case σ3=0,
σ21+σ22−σ1σ2≤(SytN)2
This Equation is an equation of ellipse whose semi major axis is 2–√Syt and minor axis is 2/3−−
−√Syt
NOTE:
 This theory is best for ductile materials.

 It can not be applied materials under hydrostatic stress condition.
Comparison among the different failure theories
Principal Stresses
In any loaded member, there exists a three mutually perpendicular planes on which the
Shear stress vanishes (zero),the Three planes are called principal planes and the normal
force acting on that principal plane are called principal stresses.
In an un-deformed member, there Exists Three mutually perpendicular line Elements that
remain perpendicular after application of load. The Three line Elements are called
Principal strains at that point.

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Theories of Failures

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Introduction

A number of failure theories have been proposed to explain the ways

von Mises failure criterion - applicabe to ductile materials (most Finite

The Maximum - Normal - Stress Theory (Rankine)

Assuming then failure occurs when or

The Maximum Normal - Strain - Theory (Also called St Venant's theory)

The Maximum - Shear - Stress Theory (Tresca)

Decompose the three normal principal stresses into the components -

etc so these equal stresses are called hydrostatic

Maximum Strain Energy Theorem

This is not much used presently.

and yielding occurs when vms Sy

Maximum Principal Stress Theory (MPST)

Condition for failure is,

Maximum principal stress (σ) > failure stresses (Syt)

Condition for safe design,

Maximum principal stress ≤ Permissible stress

Condition for safe design,

For tri-axial state of stress,

For bi-axial state of stress,

Maximum Principal Strain theory (M P St T)

Condition for safe design,

for biaxial state of stress, σ3 = 0

Total Strain Energy theory (T St E T)

Condition for safe design,

Total Strain Energy per unit volume = 12σ1ε1 + 12σ2ε2 + 12σ3ε3

NOTE: This theory is suitable for hydrostatic stress condition

Maximum Distortion Energy Theory (M D E T)

Total strain energy/Vol = Volumetric strain energy/vol + distortion energy / volume

Volumetric Strain Eenrgy /vol = 12 (average stress)(Volumetric strain)

for bi axial case σ3=0,

 This theory is best for ductile materials.

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