10.
2 Principal Stresses and Maximum Shear Stress
For design purposes, the critical stresses at a point are often the maximum and minimum normal
stresses and the maximum shear stress. The stress transformation equations can be used to develop
additional relationships that indicate:
(a) the orientations of planes where maximum and minimum normal stresses occur,
(b) the magnitudes of maximum and minimum normal stresses,
(c) the magnitudes of maximum shear stresses, and
(d) the orientations of planes where maximum shear stresses occur.
The transformation equations for plane stress were developed for normal stress and shear stress,
respectively, as follows:
These same equations can also be expressed in terms of double-angle trigonometric functions as:
Principal Planes
For a given state of plane stress, the stress
components σx, σy, and τxy are constants. The
dependent variables σn and τnt are actually
functions of only one independent variable, θ.
Therefore, the value of θ for which the normal
stress σn is a maximum or a minimum can be
determined by differentiating Equation (10.3)
with respect to θ and setting the derivative equal
to zero:
…….10.5
Planes free of shear stress are termed principal planes.
The two values of θp that obtained from Equation (10.6) are called the principal angles.
…….10.6
The normal stresses acting on principal planes —the maximum and minimum normal stresses—are
called principal stresses.
…….10.7
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nibras Alchalabi 10-5
Shear Stresses on Principal Planes
If a plane is a principal plane, then the shear stress acting on the plane must be zero.
The converse of this statement is also true:
If the shear stress on a plane is zero, then that plane must be a principal plane.
Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress
To determine the planes where the maximum in-plane shear stress τ max occurs, Equation (10.4)
is differentiated with respect to θ and set equal to zero, yielding
…….10.8
The solution of this equation gives the orientation θ = θs of a plane where the shear stress is either
a maximum or a minimum:
…….10.9
The general equation can be derived to give the magnitude of τmax :
…….10.10
Normal Stresses on Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress Surfaces
Unlike principal planes, which are free of shear stress, planes subjected to τmax usually have normal
stresses. After substituting angle functions obtained from Equation (10.9) into Equation (10.3) and
simplifying, we find that the normal stress acting on a plane of maximum in-plane shear stress is:
…….10.11
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nibras Alchalabi 10-6
Consider a point in a structural member that is
subjected to plane stress. Normal and shear
stresses acting on horizontal and vertical planes
at the point are shown.
(a) Determine the principal stresses and the maximum in-plane shear
stress acting at the point.
(b) Show these stresses in an appropriate sketch.
10.7
10.10
10.11
10.6
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nibras Alchalabi 10-7
10.10
10.2
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nibras Alchalabi 10-8
For the structural member, Determine:
a) the principal stresses and the maximum in-plane shear stress
acting at the point.
(b) Show these stresses in an appropriate sketch.
The principal stresses and the maximum in-plane shear stress must be shown in an appropriate
sketch. The angle θp indicates the orientation of one principal plane relative to the reference x face.
From Equation (10.6),
The angle θp is positive; consequently, the
angle is turned counterclockwise from the x
axis. Since σx − σy is negative, θp indicates the
orientation of σp2 = 42.0 MPa. The other
principal stress, σp1 = 178.0 MPa, acts on a
perpendicular plane. The in-plane principal
stresses are shown in the accompanying
figure. The maximum in-plane shear stress
and the associated average normal stress are
shown on the sloped face of the wedge, which
is rotated 45° from the principal planes. Note
that the arrow for τmax starts on the σp1 side of
the wedge and points toward the σp2 side.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nibras Alchalabi 10-9
