Stress Transformation and Mohr’s Circle
Consider a stress state where the only non-zero stresses applied to the volume occur in a 2-D plane oriented along the coordinate axes. This
is called plane stress which we can have in the x-y plane, the x-z plane, or the y-z plane.
For example, plane stress in the x-y plane is shown below:
yy yy
yx zz yx
xx xy xy
xx xx xx
xy
xy
yx
y
zz
yy yx
z
x generalized
planestres
s yy
planestress
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
Assume plane stress (stresses in x-y plane only) so that the traction (stress) tensor becomes:
xx xy 0
yx yy 0
0 0 0
We now consider the question of resolving the given stress components in the x-y directions into stresses oriented in a different direction.
For example, the resultant stresses on a plane which has a normal which makes an angle with the x-axis. A further question is whether
there is some plane where the stresses are a maximum or are zero.
Consider a solid body such as that shown below. Suppose that we start with the state of stress defined in x-y coordinates.
F
2
F1
y
y y
'y'
p
x
y
x
'y' x
'x'
p
oint0
y
x
x
x x
x
z
x
y
x
'x' x
'y'
y
y
y
y
'y'
y' x
'
x
as shown below to obtain:
We wish to determine the state of stress in the x'-y' coordinate system. We pass a cutting plane through point "O" which a unit normal
vector n
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
yy zz
yx y’
t(n) x’
xy
xx xx n’ n
xy xx
yx y xy
zz y'
x'
yx
yy z
x
yy
A 2-D picture of the stress-state may be easier to work with:
y
y
t
’y y
x
y (
n)
x
x
n x
’
x x
y
x
x x
x
x
y x
y
y
y
x y
x
x
z y
y y
y
Note that the unit vector n as well as the x'-axis makes an angle with the x-axis (measured CCW from the x-axis).
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
y
t (n)
xx
n
x
xy
yy
n nxi n y j cos i sin j
t( n ) t( n ) i t( n ) j = traction
x y
vector
xx , yy , xy = Cauchy stresses
n
From Cauchy's formula, we have t n or t
( n)
(n)
t xx cos yx sin n xx n yx
( n) x x y
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
t xy cos yy sin n xy n yy
( n) y x y
n is a general result in 3-D which gives the projection of Cauchy stress tensor onto a plane whose
The expression t
( n)
unit normal is given by n .The traction vector t
( n ) on the inclined face, as given above, is written terms of it's x and y components. It is
much more informative and useful to write the traction vector t
( n ) in terms a normal component n and a parallel (shear) component
s as shown below. Or, because the unit normal n and x'-axis are in the same direction, we would actually be determining the stresses
x ' x ' and x ' y ' in the x'-y' coordinate system as shown below:
x
'y' s t
(n)
t
()
ny t
(n)
n
x
'y'
x
'x'
n
x
x
t ’ y
y
(
n )
x x
’
x
y
x
y
x
y
y
=
CCW
an
gl
e f
romx
-ax
is
x ' x ' (also called n ) is first obtained from the dot product of the unit normal and the traction vector:
The normal component
n n tn or as a vector
n ( n tn ) n
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
and the shear (parallel) component is obtained from vector addition
tn n s s t
n n
Now, lets carry out these vector operations to obtain n and s . The unit normal vector in 2-D (x-y) is given by
n nx i n y j cos i sin j
Cauchy's formula in vector notation
tn n (nx xx n y yx )i (nx xy n y yy ) j
( xx cos xy sin )i ( xy cos yy sin ) j
Normal component of traction
( cos sin ) i
x ' x ' tn n
xx xy
( xy cos yy sin )
j
cos i sin j
cos 2 2 sin cos sin 2
xx xy yy
Use the double angle trig identities to rewrite above equation
cos 2 (1 cos 2 ) / 2
sin 2 (1 cos 2 ) / 2
2 sin cos sin 2
With the double angle trig identities, x ' x ' becomes
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
xx yy xx yy
x'x' n cos 2 xy sin 2
2 2
Shear component of traction
The shear component, s , can be obtained from vector algebra, ie,
tn n 2 s2 or
2 2
s tn n
2 2
or x' y' tn x 'x'
Evaluating the above and using the double angle formulas, we obtain for the shear component:
xx yy
x ' y ' s xy cos 2 sin 2
2
An alternate procedure to obtain the shear component:
:
Define the unit normal in the direction of y' to be n'
n ' k n sin i cos j
The shear component x ' y ' is the component of t in the direction of n ' so that
n
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( cos sin ) i
x ' y ' tn n '
xx xy
( xy cos yy sin )
j
sin i cos j
xx cos sin xy ( sin 2 cos 2 ) yy sin cos
xx yy
xy cos 2 sin 2
2
These last two results allow us to transform the stresses from an x-y coordinate system to an x'-y' coordinate system and are called the
stress transformation equations.
We could obviously use either the notation x ' x ' or n , and x ' y ' or S . We will choose to use n and S . After squaring
both sides of the n and s equations, adding the results to obtain one equation and using trig identities, we obtain the following
2 2
xx yy xx yy
n s 2 xy 2
2 2
The above is similar to the equation of a circle of radius r located at x=a and y=b, i.e.,
(x-a)2 + (y-b)2 = r2
Thus, the relation defining the normal and shear components (in terms of the x and y stresses) can be drawn as a circle if we choose the
following:
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x n
xx yy
a
2
y s
b0
2
2 xx yy
r xy
2
This leads to graphical representation of the stress transformation equations known as Mohr's Circle.
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
x'y' ( s ) 2
xx yy 2
r xy
2
yy , xy
C
y fa c e s tre s s e s
A
P2 P1
x'x'
( n
)
2 P
r
2 S
xx , xy
B x fa c e s tre s s e s
S m ax
a ( xx yy ) / 2 P 1 , P 2 p rin c ip a l s tre s s e s
is p o s itiv e c o u n te r c lo c k w is e Imp
ortant note on sign convention for shear stress used in constructing Mohr’s Circle.
When defining the Cauchy stress, a positive shear stress xy on the positive x face was in the positive y coordinate direction.
2
Because the calculation for the shear component above, ie, t 2 which involves a square root, there is an
s n n
uncertainty in the + direction of the shear component. In order for the Mohr’s circle graphical representation to be used properly, we must
adopt a sign convention:
Shear stresses on opposite faces that form a clockwise couple about the center are positive on the Mohr’s circle.
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
yy yy
yx yx
xy xy
xx xx
Shearwhichm akes
CWm oment is positive
Differential volume +direction Mohr's Circle
Shearon+xface is negative
Shearon+yface is positive
A positive xy (in the stress tensor) is plotted on Mohr's circle as negative for the x-face and positive for y-face.Mohr’s Circle
n n
graphically represents the Cauchy formula for t . It allows one to graphically determine the normal and shear stress on
any plane relative to the x-y axes.
Its most important use is to determine the principal stresses (the maximum and minimum values of the normal stress, n , where there
is no shear stress), the maximum shear stress, s , and the orientation of the planes on which these occur.
The principal stress is the normal stress that occurs on a plane where no shear stress exists.
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Construction of Mohr’s Circle (method 1)
1. Locate center on n axis at ( xx yy ) / 2 .
2
2 xx yy
2. Draw circle with radius r xy .
2
3. Locate the two points on circle with values of the stress components on the x-face and y-face. These two points lie on a diameter line of
circle which passes through the center.
4. Determine max/min values of n and s and their plane orientation (angle from x or y face). Remember: angles on Mohr’s circle
are twice the real world.
Construction of Mohr’s Circle (method 2)
1. Plot the values of normal and shear stress from the x-face ( xx and xy ) on the n and s axes. Observe Mohr’s circle
assumption on positive shear (shear is positive if moment due to shear is CW).
2. Plot the values of normal and shear stress from the y-face ( yy and yx ) on the n and s axes.
3. The above two points form the diameter of Mohr’s circle whose center is located where the diameter line intersects the n axis.
4. Determine max/min values of n and s and their plane orientation (angle from x or y face). Remember: angles on Mohr’s circle
are twice the real world.
Some reminders:
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
1. For determining n and s from the defining equations, the angle between the normal to any plane and the x-axis is defined
positive in the CCW direction from the x-axis.
2. When plotting shear stresses on Mohr’s circle, a shear stress is considered positive if it produces a CW moment.
3. All angles on Mohr’s circle are twice the real world [the x- and y-face stresses are 90 in the x-y coordinate system, but 180 apart on
Mohr’s circle (opposite ends of circle diameter)].
4. The planes of principal stress and maximum shear stress are 90 apart on Mohr’s circle and thus 45 apart in the real world!!!!
5. The angle defining the planes where the maximum values of n and s occur can also be obtained by calculus. If
xx yy xx yy
n cos 2 xy sin 2
2 2
Then taking the derivative with respect and setting equal to zero gives the max/min values:
d n
0 ( xx yy ) sin 2 2 xy cos 2
d
The above can be solved for two roots in the range: -90+90 which define the normal for the planes of max/min normal stress with
respect to the x-axis.
The max value of shear stress can be obtained in a similar manner. The defining plane of max shear is always 45 from plane of max/min
normal stress.
SAJJAD AHMED (ROLL NO.10255)
