Analysis of Plane Stress

Text Book Reference:

Elements of Strength of Materials by S. P. Timoshenko and D. H Young
[Page Nos. 173-178 of Fifth Edition]

Module 3 (Graphical Method)

• Eqs. (1) and (2) are rewritten below:

⎛σx +σ y ⎞ ⎛σx −σ y ⎞
σ =⎜ ⎟+⎜ ⎟ cos 2θ − τ xy sin 2θ (1)
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛σx −σ y ⎞
τ =⎜ ⎟ sin 2θ + τ xy cos 2θ (2)
⎝ 2 ⎠

Eqs. (1) and (2) can be rearranged as shown below to show that it represents a circle in
(σ ,τ ) plane where the horizontal axis represents normal stress (σ ) and the vertical axis

represents shear stress (τ ) .

⎧ ⎛ σ x + σ y ⎞⎫ ⎛ σ x − σ y ⎞
⎨σ − ⎜ ⎟⎬ = ⎜ ⎟ cos 2θ − τ xy sin 2θ (11a)
⎝ 2 ⎠⎭ ⎝ 2 ⎠
• ⎩
⎛ σ − σ y ⎞
τ =⎜ x ⎟ sin 2θ + τ xy cos 2θ (11b)
⎝ 2 ⎠
• Squaring and adding Eqs. (11a) and (11b),
2 2
⎧ ⎛ σ x + σ y ⎞⎫ ⎛σx −σ y ⎞
⎨σ − ⎜ + τ = ⎟ + τ xy
2 2
⎟ ⎬ ⎜ (12)
⎩ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎭ ⎝ 2 ⎠
σx +σy
• Clearly, Eq. (12) represents a circle (called Mohr’s circle) with centre ( ,0) and
2
2
⎛σx −σ y ⎞
⎟ + τ xy . That means Eqs. (11a) and (11b) represent the equation of a
2
radius ⎜
⎝ 2 ⎠
circle in parametric form where the parameter is 2θ . That means any plane having
angle θ for the biaxial element (Fig. 4) would be 2θ in the Mohr’s circle.
• In (σ ,τ ) plane, the coordinates of any plane is denoted by the normal and shear stress

components, e.g., the coordinates of x-plane is denoted by (σ x ,τ xy ) . In fact, the points

on the Mohr’s circle would represent the coordinates of the planes that can be obtained
by rotating the biaxial element (Refer Fig. 4).
• For example, the coordinates of x- and y-planes i.e., (σ x ,τ xy ) , (σ y , −τ xy ) respectively

would lie on the Mohr’s circle. This can be seen by putting these coordinates in the left
hand side of Eq. (12) to satisfy its right hand side. This is true for any plane such as θ
plane ( (σ ,τ ) in Eqs. (1) and (2)); θ + π / 2 -plane ( (σ ′,τ ′ ) in Eqs. (3) and (4)); or
principal planes and so on.
• Procedure for drawing Mohr’s circle
¾ Assume σ x , σ y and τ xy to be positive as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 (repeated)
¾ In graph paper, take a suitable scale for stress i.e., say 1 small division=…. MPa.
¾ Draw a Cartesian coordinate system with origin at O where the horizontal axis
represents the σ -axis and the vertical axis represents the τ -axis.
¾ Locate the coordinates of x-plane (σ x ,τ xy ) and y-plane (σ y , −τ xy ) as per the sign

convention. These points are say A and B respectively. Physically x- and y-planes
 are 900 apart, so in the Mohr’s circle (henceforth terms as MC) they are 1800
opposite points (i.e., diametrically opposite points). It is reiterated that any plane
having angle θ for the biaxial element would be 2θ in the Mohr’s circle.
¾ Join points A and B. The line AB will be bisected at the σ -axis, say at point C. This
is the centre of MC. Taking C as centre and radius as CA or CB, draw a circle which
is the MC (Fig. 7). The direction CA represents the x-plane and CB represents the y-
plane.

Fig. 7
¾ Clearly the points D and E represent respectively the maximum ( σ 1 ) and minimum (
σ 2 ) normal stresses (with zero shear stress). Measure the angle between CA and CD
which is 2θ p and half of it i.e., θ p is the angle between the x-plane and σ 1 plane.

Always mention the sense (CW or CCW) of σ 1 from the x-plane. As the principal
planes are orthogonal to each other (shown previously), σ 2 will be (900- θ p ) from

the x-plane CCW or CW, depending on whether σ 1 is CW or CCW. (Fig. 7)

¾ The rotated element for principal planes can be drawn as shown in Fig. 8.
 Fig. 8
¾ Then τ max and τ min are represented by points F and G respectively. Find out the
angle θ s in the same method as mentioned for θ p . (Fig. 7)

¾ The rotated element for τ max and τ min can be drawn as shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 9
¾ If we are to find out the stress components (σ ,τ ) on any plane which is θ 0 CW or

CCW (as shown in Fig. 7) from the x-plane, then starting from the x-plane (CA),
rotate across the MC by 2θ 0 in the same sense (CW or CCW), and the coordinate of
the point (H) arrived at would provide the values of (σ ,τ ) . (Fig. 7)
¾ If we are to find the stress components (σ ′,τ ′ ) on a plane which is orthogonal to (

θ + π / 2 ) plane, then we have to locate a point (I) which is diametrically opposite to

H. The point I represents (σ ′,τ ′ ) . This is because the planes which are orthogonal

to each other will be represented by diametrically opposite points on MC i.e., 2θ

and 2θ + π . (Fig. 7)
¾ The rotated element for θ can be drawn as shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 10