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Stress Transformation A Review

Plane Stress

The general state of plane stress at a point has six independent normal
and shear stress components ( x , y , z , xy , xz , yz )

A state of plane stress can be defined if the general state of stress at a

point can be reduced to two normal stresses and one shear stress.

The state of plane stress can be expressed by stress components along

x' y' axes, which are not coincident with the x, y axes.

General Equations of Plane Stress

Sign convention
o Positive normal and shear stresses act in the positive co-ordinate
direction on a positive face, and in the negative co-ordinate
direction on a negative face.
o Angles are measured positive counter-clockwise.

Using an FBD of a sectioned element along the inclined plane.

Assuming static equilibrium and summing forces in the x' and y'
directions gives:

Fx' 0 x' A ( xy A sin )cos ( xy A cos)sin

( x A cos)cos ( y A sin )sin

Fy' 0 x'y' A ( xy A cos)cos ( xy A sin )sin
( x A cos)sin ( y A sin )cos

Or

x' x cos 2 y sin 2 xy (2 sin cos)

x'y' ( y x )sin cos x y (cos 2 sin 2 )

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Using the trigonometric identities: sin 2 (1 cos 2) / 2;
cos 2 (1 cos 2) / 2; and sin 2 2 sin cos :

(1)

y
x'y' x
sin 2 xy cos 2
2

(2)

y'

y
x' x y x
cos 2 xy sin 2
2
2

x y
2

y
x
cos 2 xy sin 2
2

(3)

These
are the general equations of plane-stress transformation. They
permit the calculation of the plane stresses acting on an element oriented
at an angle to the given stress components.

Stresses
Principal

Given a state of plane stress, what are the maximum and minimum values
of normal stress acting at the point, and in which direction are these
stresses oriented?

Differentiate Eq. (1) for x' wrt , and set the result equal to zero and
solve:

tan 2 p

xy

x y 2

(4)

i.e. there are two values of p , p1 and p2 which are oriented at 90o to
each other.

Substituting expressions for sin 2 p and cos 2 p into Eq. (1) for x' gives:

1,2

(5)

x y 2
2

xy
2

x y

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i.e. the maximum ( 1) and minimum ( 2 ) in-plane normal stress acting at
a point.

1 and 2 are the principal stresses, which act on the principal planes
p and p measured
clockwise positive from the co-ordinate
defined by
1
2
system for the given stresses (i.e. x, y ).

Note: No shear stress acts on the principal planes.

Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress

Given a state of stress, what is the maximum in-plane shear stress acting
at the point, and in which direction does the stress act?

Differentiate Eq. (2) for x'y' wrt , set the result equal to zero, and solve:

tan 2 s

x y 2
xy

(6)

Solving for s1 and s2 shows that the planes of maximum in-plane shear
stress are directed 45o to the principal planes.

The maximum in-plane shear stress is:

max
in plane

x y 2
2

xy
2

(7)

Substitution s1 and s2 into Eq. (1) for x' gives:

avg

x y
2

(8)

i.e. a normal stress acts on the plane of maximum in-plane shear stress.

Note: The existence of

avg is quite apparent on Mohrs Circle.

Mohrs Circle Plane Stress

Mohrs circle provides a graphical solution to the general equations for

plane-stress transformation.

Rewrite Eqs. (1) and (2) for x' and x'y' :

x'

x y

y
x
cos 2 xy sin 2
2

y
x'y' x
sin 2 xy cos 2
2

Square and add these equations to eliminate :

2

x y

x y
2
2

xy
x'

x'y'
2

Or

x' avg

2
x'y'
R2

(9)

Where

avg

x y

(9a)

x y 2
2
R
xy
2

(9b)

Equation (9) is the equation of a circle with radius R offset in the

direction by avg on the , axes.

Point A is the known state of stress x and xy .

Point C is the offset at avg

x y
2

x y
2
Radius R
xy .
2

Rotation of an element by 90o will give x' y and x'y' xy . To obtain

this result on Mohrs circle requires a rotation of 180o, therefore, must
rotate by angle 2 on Mohrs circle. Maximum (principal) stress occurs at
B, minimum normal stress occurs at D, i.e. point with no shear stress.

Maximum in-plane shear stress occurs at points E and F, i.e. avg exists
on theplane.

A state of stress at an orientation of counter-clockwise from the known

state is given by the point P ( 2 on Mohrs circle). x' and x'y' can be
read from the circle or calculated from trigonometry.

Absolute Maximum Shear Stress (3D)

If a body is subjected to a general 3D state of stress there is a unique

orientation of a plane that will give the principal stresses
( min int max ), and there will be no shear stress components acting
on the principal planes.

Assuming: max in the x' , min in the z' and int in the y' directions,
respectively.

Drawing Mohrs circle for each plane.

The absolute maximum shear stress is located on the largest circle:

max
abs

max min
2

(10)

And it has an associated normal stress:

avg

max min
2

(11)

The absolute maximum shear stress occurs on a plane oriented 45o (i.e.
90o on Mohrs circle) to a principal plane (here the x',z' plane).

Stress)
Absolute Maximum Shear Stress (Plane

Consider an element exposed to plane stress ( x', y' plane). Define max
in the x' , int in the y' , and min ( 0) in the z' directions, respectively.
Assuming max and int have the same sign:

Here
max
abs
x'z' max

max
2

(12)

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max
Note: The maximum in-plane shear stress in
plane max int / 2 is not
equal to the maximum shear stress in the body.

Consider the case where max and min have opposite signs ( max in the
y' directions, respectively).
x' , int in the z' , and min in the

Here
max
max
abs
in
plane

max min
2

(13)

max
These values for abs
are important for ductile materials as they fail in
shear.