Geotechnical Engineering

CEGTEC30
(Mohr’s Circle)
Lesson Content:
• Minor Principal Stress
• Major Principal Stress
• Normal Stress
• Shear Stress
 Mohr’s Circle
• Two-dimensional graphical representation of the stress transformation
invented by Christian otto mohr.
• The Mohr circle is then used to determine graphically the stress components
acting on a rotated coordinate system or acting on a differently oriented plane
passing through that point.
• The abscissa (𝜎𝜎) and ordinate (𝜏𝜏) of each point on the circle are the magnitudes
of the normal stress and shear stress components, respectively acting on the
rotated coordinate system.
𝜏𝜏 𝜎𝜎′

𝜎𝜎 𝜎𝜎 𝜎𝜎
𝜃𝜃
 𝜏𝜏
Mohr’s Circle
• Sign Convention
σmax

Compression = + Normal Stress

σmin
Counter Clockwise = + Shear Stress R
σy 𝜎𝜎
V H
B (σx , 0) (σy , 0)

σx σx
σy − σx
𝜃𝜃 R=
2
A σmax = Major Principal Stress
σy
σmin = Minor Principal Stress
 σy σy − σx σmin = Minor Principal Stress
R =
2 σmax = Major Principal Stress
B
σn = Normal Stress on Plane AB
𝜏𝜏 = Shear Stress on Plane AB
σx σx
𝜃𝜃 x
𝜏𝜏 σmax cos θ =
A R
σy Y
σmin AB 2𝜃𝜃 x = Rcos θ
R y
(𝜎𝜎, 𝜏𝜏)
X σn = σx + R + x
2𝜃𝜃
𝜎𝜎
V x H
𝜏𝜏 = Y y = Rsin θ
y
sin θ = 𝜏𝜏 = Rsin θ
R
Situation 1: 𝜏𝜏 250
The soil element has the following stresses.
AB
σy = 250 kPa 90 (𝜎𝜎, 𝜏𝜏)
R
80
B 60°
𝜎𝜎
σx = 90 kPa V H
σx = 90 kPa
30°
σy − σx 250 − 90
A
R= = = 80 kPa
2 2
σy = 250 kPa x = 80cos 60°
Y x
60° cos θ = x = 40
R
X
Situation 1: 𝜏𝜏 250
The soil element has the following stresses.
AB
R = 80 kPa 1. Major Principal Stress 90 (𝜎𝜎, 𝜏𝜏)
x = 40 σmax = σy = 250 kPa 80 y
60°
2. Normal Stress on plane AB x 𝜎𝜎
Y σn = σx + R + x
60° σn = 90 + 80 + 40
X σn = 210 kPa
y
sin θ = 3. Shear Stress on plane AB
R
𝜏𝜏 = Y
y = 80sin 60°
𝜏𝜏 = 69.282 kPa
y = 69.282
Situation 2: 𝜏𝜏 σmax
The soil element has the following stresses.
σy = 280 kPa σmin
40 kPa B
V
(100, 40)
𝜎𝜎
40 kPa 40
σx = 100 kPa H
(280, −40)
σx = 100 kPa 20° 40 kPa
A 40 kPa 1. Major Principal Stress
2. Minor Principal Stress
σy = 280 kPa 3. Normal Stress on plane AB
Situation 2: Solution:
1. Major Principal Stress
σy + σx 280 + 100
2. Minor Principal Stress z= = = 190
3. Normal Stress on plane AB 2 2
σmax = 𝑧𝑧 + R
𝜏𝜏 σmax 90

σmin AB R
40 R = 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏2
(𝜎𝜎, 𝜏𝜏)
V 90 R = (40)2 +(90)2
(100, 40)
𝜎𝜎
40 R = 98.49
H σmax = 190 + 98.49 σmin = 190 − 98.49
(280, −40) σmax = 288.49 kPa σmin = 91.51 kPa
𝑧𝑧
190
Situation 2: x
1. Major Principal Stress σmax = 288.49 kPa R cos θ =
𝛼𝛼 R
2. Minor Principal Stress σmin = 91.51 kPa x
3. Normal Stress on plane AB x = 98.49cos 16.04°
Solution: x = 94.66
𝜏𝜏 σmax 90
∅ 40
σn = 190 +94.66
σmin AB
σn = 284.66 kPa
V (𝜎𝜎, 𝜏𝜏) 40
tan ∅ =
(100, 40) 𝛼𝛼
𝜎𝜎 90
∅
∅ = 23.96°
H 𝛼𝛼 = 40° − 23.96°
(280, −40) 𝛼𝛼 = 16.04°
𝑧𝑧
190
Situation 3: 1. Major Principal Stress (144.72 kPa)
The soil element has the following stresses. 2. Minor Principal Stress (55.28 kPa)
σy = 120 kPa 3. Normal Stress on plane AB (69.25 kPa)
A 4. Shear Stress on plane AB (32.47 kPa)
40 kPa
40 kPa 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑°
σx = 80 kPa
B
σx = 80 kPa 40 kPa
40 kPa
σy =120kPa