University of Idaho ME325 Spring 2005

Failure Theories
Distortion-Energy Hypothesis (DE)

Slade Klein Katy McDonald Collin Peterson

The failure of a statically loaded member in uni a tension or compression is relatively easy to predict. One can simply compare the stress incurred with the strength of the material. However, when - xial the loading conditions are less simple (i.e. biaxial loading, sheer stresses) then we must use some method to compare multiple stresses to a single strength value. Below are four common criteria for predicting failure and determining factors of safety as well as lists of some common materials for which each would be preferred. The distortion eergy hypothesis predicts that failure will - n occur in a member when the distortion energy per unit volume of the member equals the distortion energy in the member when it is uni a - xially stressed to its yield stress. Failure when:

Modified II-Mohr
This failure criteria is a modification of the Mohr Hypothesis that best accounts for the experimentally produced data from fracture tests of brittle materials (i.e. strain to failure < 0.05). It is applicable when the |SUC| > SUT and B is less than- ST. U
B

Brittle behavior

Ductile behavior

ff
< 0.05 0.05

' Sy

B
Sy

Maximum Shear
von Mises

Where

0 A S ut S ut B S ut S A = ut n
Where

S ut

Applicable Material Examples: Aluminum Sy Wrought, Drawn, or Rolled Most Steels

Where the von Mises stress is:

Sy

0 A S ut S uc B S ut S ut
n + S ut 2 n A = 1 ( B ) S ut S uc + S ut
Applicable Material Examples: Gray Cast Iron Ceramics

Sy
1

No

S ut = S uc ?

Yes

No

S yt = S yc ?

Yes

[( 2 ) 2 + ( 2 3 ) 2 + ( 3 1 ) 2 ] 2 '= 1 2

The safety factor can be described by:

n=

Sy

'

S uc
B
S ut

Coulomb Mohr Hypothesis

The Coulomb Mohr Hypothesis Predicts that failure will occur in a multiaxial state of stress when the larger Mohr circle associated with the state of stress at the critical location becomes tangent to, or exceeds the bounds of the failure envelope established by conditions of failure in simple tensile, compressive, and torsion tests using specimens of the same material and condition. Maximum Stress Case 1 (1st Quadrant) Principle Stress Theory Requirements
Sc
Uniaxial Tension

Maximum-Normal-Stress (MNS) Hypothesis

The maximum nrmal s o - tress theory states that failure occurs whenever one of the three principal stresses equals or exceeds the strength. Using 1 > 2 > 3 failure occurs when

Mohr ' s

S ut
S ut

A > 0, B > 0 A < S t , B <S t A < 0, B < 0 A > S c , B > S c A B 1 = A > 0, B < 0
St Sc n

1 = S ut
S ut

or

3 = S uc
S uc

S uc

S ut

2 (3rd Quadrant)
A

S uc
t

3 4

(4th (2nd

Quadrant) Quadrant)

Correlating the hypothesis to a factor of safety gives

A < 0, B > 0

n=

or

n=

S uc
Applicable Material Examples: Iconel Certain Titanium Alloys
2. http://www.efunda.com/formulae/solid_mechanics/failure_criteria

A B 1 + = St Sc n

Sc

St

Uniaxial Compression

S uc

Applicable Material Example: Cast Aluminum

Referenced Materials: 1. Shigley, J; Mischke, C; Failure Prevention. Mechanical Engineering Design. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002.

The left circle is for uniaxial compression at the limiting compression stress Sc of the material. Likewise, the right circle is for uniaxial tension at the limiting tension stress St

3. www.matweb.com