C HAPTER 4

ELASTIC CONSTANTS

Whenever a tensile load is applied axially to a bar, there will be a longitudinal or linear strain. But,
naturally there will be compressive strain on lateral side (sometimes called secondary strain). The
ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain is known as Poisson’s ratio.
Lateral strain
or, Poisson’s ratio = = Constant
Linear strain
This is denoted by Greek letter μ (mu).

Material Poisson’s ratio (μ )

Steel 0.25 to 0.33
Cast iron 0.23 to 0.27
Copper 0.31 to 0.34
Brass 0.32 to 0.42
Aluminium 0.32 to 0.38
Concrete 0.08 to 0.18
Rubber 0.45 to 0.50
Stainless steel 0.305
Wrought iron 0.278
Bronze 0.350

E XAMPLE 4.1: A metal bar 60 mm × 60 mm in section is subjected to an axial compressive load

of 600 kN. If the contraction of a 200 mm gauge length was found to be 0.65 mm and the increase in
thickness as 0.05 mm, find the values of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio for the bar material.
P.L 600000 × 200
δl = = = 0.65
A.E 60 × 60 × E
600000 × 200
∴ E= = 51282 N/mm2
0.65 × 60 × 60
= 51.3 GN/m2 approx. Ans.
0.65
Linear strain = = 0.00325
200
0.05
Lateral strain = = 0.000833
60
 Elastic Constants • 41

lateral 0.000833
μ = Poisson’s ratio = = = 0.256
linear 0.00325
∴ μ = 0.256 Ans.
Change in volume
Volumetric strain =
Original volume
δv
εv =
v
σz
σy
σx

σx σy

σz

Figure 4.1
Referring to Fig. 4.1.

new length of side x = x(1 + εx )

new length of side y = y(1 + εy )
and new length of side z = z(1 + εz )
∴ new volume = xyz (1 + εx )(1 + εy )(1 + εz )
= xyz (1 + εx + εy + εz )
(Neglecting products of strains)
xyz (1 + εx + εy + εz ) − xyz
∴ εv =
xyz
i.e., volumetric strain = sum of perpendicular strains
∴ εv = εx + εy + εz

Alternately, v = xyz
∴ log v = log x + log y + log z

Differentiating w.r.t. x
1 dv 1 1 dy 1 dz
∴ · = + · + · (i)
v dx x y dx z dx
Multiplying Eqn. (i) by dx
dv dx dy dz
∴ = + +
v x y z
42 • Strength of Materials

or εv = εx + εy + εz

E XAMPLE 4.2: A rectangular bar 600 m long and 120 mm × 60 mm in cross section is subjected
to forces as shown in Fig. 4.2. What is the change in the volume of bar? Take E = 200 GPa, μ = 0.3.
320 kN
180 N

150 kN 150 kN
60 mm
120 mm
180 kN 320 kN
600 mm

Figure 4.2

Original volume = l × b × t = 600 × 120 × 60 = 4320000 mm3

Stress in x-x direction

Px 150000
σx = = = 20.83 N/mm2 (Tension)
Ax 120 × 60
180000
σy = = 5 N/mm2 (Tension)
600 × 60
320000
σz = = 4.44 N/mm2 (Compressive)
600 × 120
Now resultant strain in each direction
σx μσy μσz 20.83 0.25 × 5 0.25 × 4.44 20.69
εx = + − + = − + =
E E E 200000 200000 200000 200000
σy μσx μσz 5 0.25 × 20.83 0.25 × 4.44 0.9025
εy = + − + = − + =
E E E 200000 200000 200000 200000
σz μσx μσy 4.44 0.25 × 20.83 0.25 × 5 10.9
εz = + − − =− − − =
E E E 200000 200000 200000 200000
δv 20.69 0.9025 10.9
Volumetric strain = = + −
v 200000 200000 200000
10.69
= = 5.345 × 10−5
200000
∴ δv = v × 5.345 × 10−5 = 4320000 × 0.5345 × 10−5

= 2309.04 mm3 . Ans.

 Elastic Constants • 43

Bulk Modulus: When a body is subjected to three mutually perpendicular stresses of equal inten-
sity, the ratio of direct stress to the corresponding volumetric strain is known as bulk modulus.
It is denoted by K.
Direct stress σ
K= =
Volumetric strain δv
v
Direct stress occurs, for example, as hydrostatic pressure.
Principle of shear stress
If we apply shear stress in clockwise direction, τ′
then automatically shear stress in anticlockwise
will set as complementary. τ τ

τ′
Figure 4.3

Relation between Modulus of Elasticity and Modulus of Rigidity

Shear stress
Modulus of rigidity =
Shear strain
Consider a cube τ' D1 D C1 C
P
τ τ D2
AD2 + AD2 = BD2
φ φ
∴ 2AD2 = BD2
√ τ' A
After
B
BD = AD 2 Before
distortion distortion
Figure 4.4

BD1 − BD D1 D2 DD1 cos 45 φ

Strain of BD = = = √ =
BD BD AD 2 2
Linear strain of the diagonal BD,
φ τ
= = (i)
2 2C
τ = shear stress
C = modulus of rigidity

We know that the effect of this stress will cause tensile stress on the diagonal BD and compressive
stress on the diagonal AC. Therefore, tensile strain on the diagonal BD due to tensile stress on the
diagonal BD is given by
τ
BD = (ii)
E
44 • Strength of Materials

And the tensile strain on the diagonal BD due to compressive stress on the

Z
diagonal AC = μ × (iii)
E
The combined effect of the above two stresses on the
τ τ τ
diagonal BD = + μ = (1 + μ ) (iv)
E E E
Equating Eqns. (i) & (iv),

τ τ 1 1
= (1 + μ ) or = (1 + μ )
2C E 2C E
2C E E
= or C=
1 1+μ 2(1 + μ )
C = Shear modulus or modulus of rigidity

Relation between Modulus of Elasticity and Bulk Modulus

Let us take a cube of each side l and subject it to direct stress (hydrostatic pressure) on the faces of
the cube.
Initial volume of cube v = l 3
By differentiation,

∴ dv = 3l 2 dL
 
dv
∴ Volumetric strain, εv =
v
3l 2 dl
εv =
l2
 
dl
∴ εv = 3 = 3εl
l

dl
Now linear strain of any side of cube is,
l
dl σ σ σ
εl = = −μ −μ
l E E E
σ
∴ εL = (1 − 2μ )
E
3σ
∴ εv = (1 − 2μ ) (i)
E
σ
K= (ii)
εv
 Elastic Constants • 45

σ
∴ εv =
K
Substituting in Eqn. (i)

σ 3σ
∴ = (1 − 2μ )
K E
∴ E = 3K(1 − 2μ )

Relation between E, C & K

E E
Since C = ; E = 2C(1 + μ ) ∴ −1 = μ (i)
2(1 + μ ) 2C

Also E = 3K(1 − 2μ )
E 1 E
− 1 = −2μ or μ= − (ii)
3K 2 6K
Equating Eqns. (i) & (ii)

E 1 E
−1 = −
2C 2 6K
 
1 1 1 3
E + = +1 =
2C 6K 2 2
 
1 1
E + =3
C 3K
9CK
E=
C + 3K

Exercise
4.1 A bar of 50 mm diameter and 300 mm length is made of a material having E = 200 GPa and
μ = 0.3, calculate its modulus of rigidity. Also determine the change in the volume of the bar
when subjected to a hydrostatic stress of 100 MPa.
[Ans C = 76.92 GPa, 353 mm3 ]
4.2 A square piece of steel 150 mm long by 25 mm square is subjected to a compressive load
of 100 kN. Find the change in length of the piece if all lateral strain is presented by the
application of uniform lateral external pressure of suitable intensity. E = 200 GPa, μ = 0.25.
[Ans 0.1 mm]
4.3 The gauge length marked on a steel rod of diameter of 10 mm is 60 mm. When this rod is
subjected to tension test, the gauge length increases to 80 mm. The rod yields at 40 kN and
maximum load applied is 80 kN after which the rod breaks at 45 kN. Determine: a) percentage
elongation, b) yield strength, c) ultimate strength and d) breaking strength.
[Ans 33.3%, 509.3 MPa, 1018.6 MPa, 572.9 MPa]
46 • Strength of Materials

4.4 A bar of cross-section 10 × 10 mm is subjected to an axial pull of 8000 N. The lateral dimen-
sion of the bar is found to be changed to 9.9985 mm × 9.9985 mm. If the modulus of rigidity
of the material is 0.8 × 105 N/mm2 , determine the Poisson’s ratio and modulus of elasticity.
[Ans 0.43, 229 GPa]
4.5 A 50 mm diameter steel bar is subjected to a tensile load of 100 kN. The extension over
its 300 mm length was found to be 0.08 mm and change of its diameter was 0.0035 mm.
Determine the modulus of rigidity of bar.
[Ans 75.6 GPa]
4.6 A rectangular block is subjected to stresses 25 MPa (tensile), 20 MPa (comp) and 30 MPa
(tensile) in the directions x, y and z, respectively. Determine the strains in three directions
and value of the bulk and the rigidity modulii. E = 200 GPa, μ = 0.28.
[Ans 0.083, 0.0001, 0.00015 K = 151.5 GPa,C = 78.125 GPa]