University of Nottingham

Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions

1. In an experiment involving the behaviour of a thin wire of 0.25mm diameter, a mass of

5 kg is suspended from the wire and a torque of 1.72 mNm is applied. Calculate the
in-plane principal stresses and the maximum shear stress for this case.
[Ans: 𝜎1 = 1250.5 MPa, 𝜎2 = -251.3 MPa, 𝝉max = 751 MPa]

The applied loads cause two stresses to be acting on a plane stress element
on the surface of the wire. An axial stress, which can be calculated with 𝜎 =
and a torsional shear stress from the applied torque which can be determined
by 𝜏 = where 𝐽 = .

The mass leads to an axial force of 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 = 5 × 9.81 = 49.05 N, which in turn

.
leads to an axial stress of 𝜎 = = = ×( . × )
= 999.2 MPa

× . × × . ×
𝜏 = = ×( . × )
= 560 MPa

Therefore, the plane stress element on the surface of the wire looks like:
σy= 999.2 MPa

τyx = 560.6 MPa y

σy x

The Mohr’s circle for this problem therefore looks like:

 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions
-ve
(σx, τxy)
(0, -560)

σ2 C σ1 σ

(σy, τyx )
τmax (999.2, 560)
+ve
τ
(not to scale)
So one principal stress will be positive, the other negative.

Recalling the equations for Mohr’s circle, the centre is given by, 𝐶 =

while the radius is 𝑅 = +𝜏 .

The in-plane principal stresses can then be determined as 𝜎 = 𝐶 + 𝑅 and

𝜎 = 𝐶 − 𝑅 while the maximum in-plane shear stress 𝜏 = 𝑅.

. .
For this case, 𝐶 = = 499.6 MPa, 𝑅 = + 560.6 = 751 MPa
Giving:
𝜎 = 𝐶 + 𝑅 = 1250.5 MPa,
𝜎 = 𝐶 − 𝑅 = -251.3 MPa,
𝜏 = 𝑅 = 751 MPa

2. A thin-walled cylindrical tank is subjected to an internal pressure of 300 kPa and a

torsional moment of 15kNm. The outer radius of the tank is 250 mm and the wall
thickness is 1 mm. Calculate
i) the in-plane principal stresses and the maximum in-plane shear stress
ii) the overall maximum shear stress for the stress system
[Ans: i) 𝜎1 = 98.95 MPa, 𝜎2 = 13.55 MPa, 𝝉max = 42.7 MPa;
ii) 𝝉max = 49.48 MPa]

For a thin-walled cylinder, the internal pressure leads to a hoop and axial stress
which can be determined using 𝜎 = and 𝜎 = respectively, we can make
the assumption that 𝜎 = 0. The torque results in a torsional shear stress, 𝜏 =
, where 𝐽 = (𝐷 − 𝐷 )
 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions
× × .
Calculating these values, 𝜎 = ×
= 75 x 106 Pa = 75 MPa,
× × . × × × .
𝜎 = × ×
= 37.5 x 106 Pa = 37.5 MPa, 𝜏 = = ×( . . )
= 38.4
x 106 Pa = 38.4 MPa

The plane stress element on the surface of the cylinder looks like:

Which gives a Mohr’s circle for this plane of:

(not to scale)

Allowing us to calculate the values of the in-plane principal stresses and maximum
shear stress.

.
For this case, 𝐶 = = 56.25 MPa,
.
𝑅= + 38.4 = √18.75 + 38.4 = 42.7 MPa
Giving the results for the in-plane values as:
𝜎 = 𝐶 + 𝑅 = 98.95 MPa,
 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions
𝜎 = 𝐶 − 𝑅 = 13.55 MPa,
𝜏 = 𝑅 = 42.7 MPa

To determine the overall maximum shear stress for the stress system, it is
important to consider the third principal stress, 𝜎 , which in this case is 𝜎 = 0.
We can then draw the Mohr’s circle including all of the three planes as below:

-ve

σ3 (=σr=0) σ2 = 13.55 MPa σ

σ1 = 98.95 MPa

+ve τ max
τ
(not to scale)

And the maximum shear stress can be calculated by:

.
𝜏 = = = 49.48 MPa

3. A helicopter rotor shaft, 50mm in diameter, transmits a torque of 2.4 kNm and an
upward tensile lifting force of 125 kN. Determine the maximum tensile stress,
maximum compressive stress and maximum shear stress in the shaft.
[Ans: 𝜎1 = 134.6 MPa, 𝜎2 = -71 MPa, 𝝉max = 102.8 MPa]

The applied loads cause two stresses to be acting on a plane stress element
on the surface of the wire. An axial stress, which can be calculated with 𝜎 =
and a torsional shear stress from the applied torque which can be determined
by 𝜏 = where 𝐽 = .

The axial force of 125 kN leads to an axial stress of 𝜎 = = = ×( × )

= 63.66 MPa

× × ×
𝜏 = = ×( × )
= 97.8 MPa
 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions
This gives us the following stress-state on a plane stress element on the shaft
surface:

.
For this case, 𝐶 = = 31.8 MPa,
.
𝑅= + 97.8 = √−31.8 + 97.8 = 102.8 MPa
Giving the results for the in-plane values as:
𝜎 = 𝐶 + 𝑅 = 134.6 MPa,
𝜎 = 𝐶 − 𝑅 = -71 MPa,
𝜏 = 𝑅 = 102.8 MPa

4. A generator shaft of hollow circular cross-section is subjected to a torque of 25 kNm

and a compressive load of 900 kN. The outer and inner diameters of the shaft are 200
mm and 160 mm respectively. Determine the in-plane principal stresses and maximum
shear stress.
[Ans: 𝜎1 = 8.3 MPa, 𝜎2 = -87.9 MPa, 𝝉max = 48.1 MPa]

The applied loads cause two stresses to be acting on a plane stress element
on the surface of the wire. An axial stress, which can be calculated with 𝜎 =
and a torsional shear stress from the applied torque which can be determined
by 𝜏 = where 𝐽 = (𝐷 − 𝐷 )

The axial force of -900 kN leads to an axial stress of 𝜎 = = ( )

=

×( . . )
= -79.6 MPa

× × .
𝜏 = = ×( . . )
= 27 MPa
 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions
This gives us the following stress-state on a plane stress element on the shaft
surface:

τxy = 27 MPa

σx = -79.6 MPa

y
x

.
For this case, 𝐶 = = -39.8 MPa,
.
𝑅= + 27 = √−39.8 + 27 = 48.1 MPa
Giving the results for the in-plane values as:
𝜎 = 𝐶 + 𝑅 = 8.3 MPa,
𝜎 = 𝐶 − 𝑅 = -87.9 MPa,
𝜏 = 𝑅 = 48.1 MPa

5. For the purpose of analysis, a segment of a crankshaft in a vehicle is presented as

shown in Figure Q5. The load P = 1 kN, and the dimensions are b1 = 80 mm, b2 =
120 mm and b3 = 40mm. The diameter of the shaft is d = 20 mm. Determine the
maximum tensile, compressive and shear stresses at point A, located on the surface
of the shaft at the z-axis.
[Ans: 𝜎1 = 31.6 MPa, 𝜎2 = -184.6 MPa, 𝝉max = 108.1 MPa ]
 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions

Figure Q5

The load P causes bending and torsion at point A.

The bending moment M can be calculated by:

𝑀 = 𝑃(𝑏 + 𝑏 ) = 1 × (0.12) = 0.12 kNm = 120 Nm

The torque can be calculated by:
𝑇 = 𝑃𝑏 = 1 × 0.12 = 0.12 kNm = 120 Nm

The bending moment causes a compressive stress at A which can be

calculated using 𝜎 = where 𝑦 = and I is given by 𝐼 = so:

∗ ∗ .
𝜎= = × .
= 153 x 106 Pa = 153 MPa

The torque causes a shear stress at A which can be calculated using 𝜏 =

where 𝑟 = and J is given by 𝐽 = so:

× × .
𝜏 = = × .
= 76.4 x 106 Pa = 76.4 MPa

Giving a stress state of:

 University of Nottingham
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MM2MS2 - Mechanics of Solids 2

Exercise Sheet 1 - Combined Loading Solutions

σx σx = -153 MPa

τxy = 76.4 MPa

y
x

Which leads to a Mohr’s circle:

-ve
(0, -76.4)

σ2 C σ1 σ

(-153, 76.4)
τmax
+ve
τ
(not to scale)

For this case, 𝐶 = = -76.5 MPa,

𝑅= + 76.4 = √−76.5 + 76.4 = 108.1 MPa

Giving the results for the in-plane values as:
𝜎 = 𝐶 + 𝑅 = 31.6 MPa,
𝜎 = 𝐶 − 𝑅 = -184.6 MPa,
𝜏 = 𝑅 = 108.1 MPa