Purpose of Mohrs Circle

Visual tool used to determine the stresses

that exist at a given point in relation to the
angle of orientation of the stress element.
There are 4 possible variations in Mohrs
Circle depending on the positive directions
are defined.

Sample Problem
y

A particular point
on the part
x

Some Part

y = -2 ksi
x = 6 ksi

x & y orientation

xy = 3 ksi

Mohrs Circle

(CW)

y = -2 ksi

x-axis
(6 ksi, 3 ksi)

x = 6 ksi
2

xy = 3 ksi

Center of
Mohrs Circle

3
(-2 ksi, -3 ksi)
y-axis

Mohrs Circle

(CW)

(avg, max)

y = -2 ksi

x-face

x = 6 ksi

(6 ksi, 3ksi)

xy = 3 ksi

avg= 2ksi

(-2 ksi, -3ksi)

y-face

avg

x y
2

2 ksi

(avg, min)

Mohrs Circle

(avg, max)
(2 ksi, 5 ksi)

(CW)

y = -2 ksi

x-face

x = 6 ksi

(6 ksi, 3ksi)
R

xy = 3 ksi

3 ksi

(3 ksi) 2 ( 4 ksi) 2

4 ksi

5 ksi
R max

y-face

avg + R7 ksi
avg R ksi

(avg, min)
(2 ksi, -5 ksi)

Mohrs Circle
y = -2 ksi

(CW)

(avg, max)
(2 ksi, 5 ksi)
x-face

x = 6 ksi

(6 ksi, 3ksi)

xy = 3 ksi
1 3 ksi

2 Tan
4 ksi

2 36.869
18.435

3 ksi

4 ksi

y-face
(avg, min)
(2 ksi, -5 ksi)

Principle Stress

(CW)

(avg, max)
(2 ksi, 5 ksi)

2 = -3 ksi

x-face

= 18.435
1 = 7 ksi
Principle Stress
Element

Rotation on element is
half of the rotation from
the circle in same
direction from x-axis

(6 ksi, 3ksi)
2

3 ksi

4 ksi

(avg, min)
(2 ksi, -5 ksi)

Shear Stress

(avg, max)
(2 ksi, 5 ksi)

(CW)

x-face

avg = 2 ksi
= 26.565
max = 5 ksi
avg = 2 ksi
Maximum Shear
Stress Element

(6 ksi, 3ksi)

2
2

3 ksi

4 ksi

2 90 2
2 90 36.869
2 53.130
26.565

y-face
(avg, min)
(2 ksi, -5 ksi)

Relationship Between Elements

avg = 2 ksi
max = 5 ksi

y = -2 ksi
x = 6 ksi = 26.565
xy = 3 ksi

= 18.435

+ = 18.435 + 26.565 = 45

avg = 2 ksi
2 = -3 ksi

1 = 7 ksi

Whats the stress at angle of 15

CCW from the x-axis?
y

A particular point
on the part
x

V
= ? ksi

Some Part

= ? ksi
15
= ? ksi

U & V new axes @ 15 from x-axis

U
x

Rotation on
Mohrs Circle

(CW)

(avg, max)
(U, U)
x-face
30

avg= 2ksi

y-face
15 on part and
element is 30 on
Mohrs Circle

(V, V)

(avg, min)

(avg, max)

(CW)

Rotation on
Mohrs Circle

(U, U)
x-face
R

U = avg + R*cos(66.869)

66.869

U = 3.96 ksi

avg= 2ksi

V = avg R*cos(66.869)
V = 0.036 ksi
UV = R*sin(66.869)
UV = 4.60 ksi

y-face
(V, V)

(avg, min)

Whats the stress at angle of 15

CCW from the x-axis?
y

A particular point
on the part
x

Some Part

V
V= .036 ksi
U = 3.96 ksi
U
15
x
= 4.60 ksi

Questions?
Next: Special Cases

Special Case Both Principle

Stresses Have the Same Sign
Y
X
Z

Cylindrical
Pressure Vessel

pD
x
2t

pD
y
4t

Mohrs
Circle

(CW)

y
This isnt the whole
story however

x y

Mohrs Circle for X-Y Planes

x = 1 and y = 2

Mohrs
Circle

z = 0 since it is
perpendicular to the free
face of the element.

(CW)
x

maxxz

z = 0

z = 3 and x = 1
max

1 3

Mohrs Circle for X-Z Planes

Mohrs
Circle

maxxz

3
z = 0 since it is
perpendicular to the free
face of the element.

(CW)

1 > 2 > 3

Pure Uniaxial Tension

y = 0

max

x = P/A
2 = 0

Ductile Materials Tend to Fail

in SHEAR

1 = x

Note when x = Sy,

Sys = Sy/2

Pure Uniaxial Compression

y = 0

max

x = P/A
2 = x

1 = 0

Pure Torsion
T
max xy

xy

Tc

2 = -xy

1
CHALK

1 = xy

Brittle materials
tend to fail in
TENSION.

Uniaxial Tension & Torsional

Shear Stresses
Rotating shaft with axial load.
Basis for design of shafts.
max R
x, xy)

x = P/A
2 = x/2-R

xy = Tc/J
x

0, yx)
2

2xy max

x/2

1 = x/2+R