Mohr Circle for stress

In 2D space (e.g., on the 1 2 , 1 3, or 2 3

plane), the normal stress ( n) and the shear
stress ( s), could be given by equations (1)
and (2) in the next slides

Note: The equations are given here in the

1 2 plane, where 1 is greater than 2.

If we were dealing with the 2 3 plane, then

the two principal stresses would be 2 and 3

Normal Stress

The normal stress, n

n= ( 1+ 2)/2 + ( 1- 2)/2 cos2

In parametric form the equation becomes:

n = c + r cos
Where

c = ( 1+ 2)/2 is the center, which lies on the

normal stress axis (x axis)

r = ( 1- 2)/2 is the radius

= 2

Sign Conventions
n is compressive when it is +, i.e., when n>0
n is tensile when it is -, i.e., when n< 0

n= ( 1+ 2)/2+( 1- 2)/2 cos2

NOTE:
is the angle from 1 to the normal to the plane!
n = 1 at
n = 2 at

(a maximum)
(a minimum )

There is no shear stress on the three principal planes

(perpendicular to the principal stresses)

Resolved Normal and Shear Stress

pl
a

ne

normal to plane

Shear Stress

The shear stress

s = ( 1- 2)/2 sin2

In parametric form the equation becomes:

s = r sin

where = 2

s > 0 + shear stress represents left-lateral shear

s < 0 - shear stress represents right-lateral shear
s = (a min)at or or
s = 12(a max) at

The maximum s is 1/2 the differential stress

(diameter), i.e., it is the length of the radius!

Construction of the Mohr Circle in 2D

Plot the normal stress, n, vs. shear stress, s, on a

graph paper using arbitrary scale (e.g., mm scale!)

Calculate:
Center c = ( 1+ 2)/2

Radius r = ( 1- 2)/2

Note: Diameter is the differential stress (1-2)

The circle intersects the n (x-axis) at the two

principal stresses ( 1 and 2)

Construction of the Mohr Circle

Multiply the physical angle by 2

The angle 2 is from the c line to any point on the
circle
+2 (CCW) angles are read above the x-axis
-2 (CW) angles below the x-axis, from the 1 axis

The n and s of a point on the circle represent the

normal and shear stresses on the plane with the
given 2angle

NOTE: The axes of the Mohr circle have no

geographic significance!

Mohr Circle for Stress

.

Max s

Mohr Circle in 3D

Maximum & Minimum Normal Stresses

The normal stress

n= ( 1+ 2)/2 + ( 1- 2)/2 cos2

in physical spaceis the angle from 1 to the
normal to the plane
When thencos2and n=( 1+ 2)/2 + ( 1- 2)/2
which reduces to a maximum value:
n= ( 1+ 2 + 1- 2)/2 n= 2 1/2 n= 1
When thencos2and n= ( 1+ 2)/2 - ( 1- 2)/2
which reduces to a minimum
n= ( 1+ 2 - 1+ 2)/2 n= 2 /2 n=

Special States of Stress - Uniaxial Stress

Uniaxial Stress (compression or tension)

One principal stress (1 or 3) is non-zero, and
the other two are equal to zero

Uniaxial compression
Compressive stress in one direction: 1 > 2= 3 = 0
|a0
0|
|0 0
0|
|0 0
0|
The Mohr circle is tangent to the ordinate at the
origin (i.e., 2= 3= 0) on the + (compressive) side

Special States of Stress

Uniaxial Tension
Tension in one direction:
1 = 2 > 3
|0
|0
|0

0 0|
0 0|
0-a|

The Mohr circle is tangent to the ordinate at

the origin on the - (i.e., tensile) side

Special States of Stress - Axial Stress

Axial (confined) compression: 1 > 2 = 3 > 0

|a 0
0|
|0 b
0|
|0 0
b|

Axial extension (extension): 1 = 2 > 3 > 0

|a 0
0|
|0 a
0|
|0 0
b|

The Mohr circle for both of these cases are to the

right of the origin (non-tangent)

Special States of Stress - Biaxial Stress

Biaxial Stress:
Two of the principal stresses are non-zero and the other is
zero
Pure Shear:
1 = - 3 and is non-zero (equal in magnitude but opposite in
sign)
2 = 0 (i.e., it is a biaxial state)
The normal stress on planes of maximum shear is zero
(pure shear!)
|a 0
0 |
|0 0
0 |
|0 0
-a|
The Mohr circle is symmetric w.r.t. the ordinate (center is at
the origin)

Special States of Stress

Special States of Stress - Triaxial Stress

Triaxial Stress:
1, 2, and 3 have non-zero values

1 > 2 > 3 and can be tensile or compressive

Is the most general state in nature

|a 0
0 |
|0 b
0 |
|0 0
c |

The Mohr circle has three distinct circles

Triaxial Stress

Two-dimensional cases: General Stress

General Compression

Both principal stresses are compressive

is common in earth)

General Tension

Both principal stresses are tensile

Possible at shallow depths in earth

Isotropic Stress

The 3D, isotropic stresses are equal in magnitude in

all directions (as radii of a sphere)

Magnitude = the mean of the principal stresses

m= ( 1+ 2+ 3)/3 = ( 11+ 22+ 33 )/3
P = 1= 2= 3 when principal stresses are equal

i.e., it is an invariant (does not depend on a specific

coordinate system). No need to know the principal
stress; we can use any!
Leads to dilation (+ev & -ev); but no shape change

ev=(v-vo)/vo= v/vo [no dimension]

v and vo are final and original volumes

Stress in Liquids

Fluids (liquids/gases) are stressed equally in all

directions (e.g. magma); e.g.:

Hydrostatic, Lithostatic, Atmospheric pressure

All of these are pressure due to the column of

water, rock, or air, respectively:

P = gz

z is thickness
is density
g is the acceleration due to gravity

Hydrostatic Pressure- Hydrostatic Tension

Hydrostatic Pressure: 1 = 2 = 3 = P
|P0
0|
|0P
0|
|00
P|
All principal stresses are compressive and equal (P)
No shear stress exists on any plane
All orthogonal coordinate systems are principal
coordinates
Mohr circle reduces to a point on the n axis
Hydrostatic Tension
The stress across all planes is tensile and equal
There are no shearing stresses
Is an unlikely case of stress in the earth

Deviatoric Stress

A total stress can be divided into its components:

isotropic (Pressure) or mean stress ( m)

Pressure is the mean of the principal stresses (may be

neglected in most problems). Only causes volume change.

deviatoric ( d) that deviates from the mean

Deviators components are calculated by subtracting the

mean stress (pressure) from each of the normal stresses of
the general stress tensor (not the shear stresses!). Causes
shape change and that it the part which we are most
interested in.

T= m+ d or d= T- m

Confining Pressure

In experimental rock deformation, pressure

is called confining pressure, and is taken to
be equal to the 2 and 3 (uniaxial loading)

This is the pressure that is hydraulically

applied around the rock specimen

In the Earth, at any point z, the confining

pressure is isotropic (lithostatic) pressure:
P = gz

Decomposition of Matrix

Decomposition of the total stress matrix into the

mean and deviatoric matrices

The deviatoric part of total stress leads to change in

shape

Example - Deviatoric & Mean stress

Given: 1 = 8 Mpa, 2 = 5 Mpa, and 3 = 2 Mpa
Find the mean and the diviatoric stresses
The mean stress ( m):
m = (8 + 5 + 2) / 3 = 5 MPa
The deviatoric stresses ( n ):
1 = 8-5 = 3 Mpa
(compressive)
2 = 5-5 = 0 Mpa
3 = 2-5 = -3 Mpa(tensile)

Differential Stress
The difference between the maximum and the
minimum principal stresses ( 1- 2)
Is always positive
Its value is:
twice the radius of the largest Mohr circle
It is twice the maximum shear stresses
Note: s = ( 1- 2)/2 sin2

s = 12 at (a maximum)
The maximum s is 1/2 the differential stress

Is an invariant of the stress tensor

Effective Stress

Its components are calculated by subtracting the

internal pore fluid pressure (Pf) from each of the
normal stresses of the external stress tensor

This means that the pore fluid pressures opposes

the external stress, decreasing the effective
confining pressure

The pore fluid pressure shifts the Mohr circle

toward lower normal stresses. This changes the
applied stress into an effective stress

Effective Stress

(applied stress - pore fluid pressure)= effective stress

| 11 12 13 | | Pf 0

0 | | 11- Pf

21 22 23 | - | 0

Pf

0 |=| 21

| 31 32 33 | | 0

Pf | | 31

12
22 Pf
32

13 |
23 |
33- Pf |

Mechanical behavior of a brittle material depends

on the effective stress, not on the applied stress

Pore Fluid Pressure