The Mohr Stress Diagram

Edvard Munch as a young geologist!

Material in the chapter is covered

in Chapter 7 in Fossens text

The Mohr Stress Diagram

A means by which two stresses acting on a plane of known
orientation can be plotted as the components of normal and
shear stresses (derived separately from each of the two stresses).

The Mohr circle is thus an elegant way to determine the shear and
normal stresses for a pair of stresses oriented obliquely to the plane
in question. The Mohr circle allows you to quickly read this for
planes of any orientation.

It also makes it easy to visualize mean stress and differences in

stress, or deviatoric stress and relate these to deformation.

Stress Equations
Two perpendicular stresses oriented at any
angle to a plane!
Normal Stress

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2!
2!

Shear Stress

2!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2!
2!

Theta is the angle between the maximum stress and the pole
to the plane the stresses are acting upon.!

The Mohr Stress Diagram

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2!
2!

2!
Theta = angle between !
The normal to the plane
and the maximum
principle stress (see Fig
4.1 in Fossen)!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2!
2!

The Mohr Circle - (mean or average stress)

Mean Stress!

The Mohr Circle radius or deviatoric stress

Deviatoric Stress!

The Mohr Circle diameter or differential stress

Differential Stress!

Laboratory Experiments in Rock Deformation

Deformed marble rock cylinders

Laboratory Experiments in Rock Deformation

Stress a rock sample until it fractures (or flows)

In-class exercise, work in groups of 4, turn in write up of answers.

Given these samples, discuss how the magnitude of stresses likely
varied relative to one another in these four experiments. Each
cylinder was deformed in a different experiment, each with its
own axial and radial load (which varied relative to one another).

In-class problem!
1.

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200

mega-pascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a
horizontal, E-W striking vector (respectively), determine
the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented NorthSouth, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a block
diagram.

2.

So max stress is oriented vertically and equal to 600 MPA

3.

Min stress is horizontal, oriented east-west and = 200 MPa

In-class problem!

There are two ways to solve these problems.

Use the Mohr Stress Diagram or

Use the equations
(extra credit if you do both)

Determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented N-S, 45o E
Maximum stress is oriented vertically and equal to 600 MPA
Minimum stress is horizontal, oriented east-west and = 200 MPa

Use the Mohr Stress Diagram!

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 (MPa) oriented as
a vertical vector and a horizontal, E-W striking vector (respectively),
determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented NorthSouth, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a block diagram.

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2!
Use the Equations!

2!

2!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2!
2!
For the minimum and maximum principle stresses of 600 and 200
megapascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal,
E-W striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear
stresses on a plane oriented North-South, 45 degrees East

For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential
stress and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and
shear stresses on the Mohr Stress Diagram.

Problem 2!
3

Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or

increase the shear stress acting on it.

Discuss how a change in differential stress might affect whether a

rock might be more or less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily
varying the stresses and looking at how they plot on the circle, or by
imagining stress on a cube.

Now discuss whether increasing the mean stress would cause a rock
to break more readily.
Would this be more or less likely with
increasing depth in the crust?

Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are
both equal to 600 Mpa.

Following set of slides should be copied and handed out to students for
exercises. Work in groups of 4, so for a class of 80 students, print out 20
sets.

In-class exercise, work in groups of 4 & turn in a write up of your answers.

Problem 1.1 Given these samples, discuss how the magnitude and
mean stresses likely varied relative to one another in these four samples.
Each cylinder was deformed in a different experiment, each with its
own axial and radial load (which varied relative to one another).

In-class problem 1.2

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 megapascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, EW striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear
stresses on a plane oriented North-South, 45 degrees East. It
helps to first draw a block diagram.
So max stress is oriented vertically and equal to 600 MPA
Min stress is horizontal, oriented east-west and = 200 MPa

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 megapascals

(MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, E-W striking
vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear stresses on a
plane oriented North-South, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a
block diagram.

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2!
Use the Equations!

2!

2!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2!
2!

Or use the Mohr Circle!

For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential
stress and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and shear
stresses on the Mohr Stress Diagram.
Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or
increase the shear stress acting on it.
Discuss how a change in differential stress might make the sample more
or less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily varying the stresses and
looking at how they plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube.
Now discuss whether increasing just the mean stress would cause a rock
to break more readily. Would this be more or less likely with increasing
depth in the crust?
Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are both
equal to 600 MPa. What is the differential stress. Would you expect the
rock to deform under these conditions?

In-class problem 2.2

1.

For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the

differential stress and mean stress.
Start by plotting the
solution for normal and shear stresses on the Mohr Stress
Diagram.

In-class problem 2.3

1.

Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will

decrease or increase the shear stress acting on it.

In-class problem 2.4

Discuss how a change in differential stress might make the
sample more or less likely to break.
It may help by
arbitrarily varying the stresses and looking at how they
plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube.

In-class problem 2.5

1.

Now discuss whether increasing the mean stress would cause

a rock to break more readily. Would this be more or less likely
with increasing depth in the crust?

In-class problem 2.6

1.

Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum

stresses are both equal to 600 Mpa. What is the differential
stress? Would you expect the rock to deform under these
conditions?

In-class problem 2
For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential stress
and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and shear stresses
on the Mohr Stress Diagram.
Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or increase
the shear stress acting on it.
Discuss how a change in differential stress might make the sample more or
less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily varying the stresses and looking
at how they plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube.
Now discuss whether increasing just the mean stress would cause a rock to
break more readily. Would this be more or less likely with increasing depth in
the crust?
Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are both
equal to 600 Mpa. What is the differential stress. Would you expect the rock
to deform under these conditions?

It is likely that Cannons derivation of stresses on a

plane and how they relate to a Mohr circle are
incorrect. The next time I teach 3120, the section
on deriving stresses on a plane (i.e. Erics notes)
should be discarded and I should instead just
follow Fossens explanation on p. 75 and 76 of his
text.

I think the problem is the way theta is defined (ie the angle
between the max principle stress and the plane, or the normal to
the plane and the max principle stress) and whether it should be
measured clockwise or counterclockwise on the normal stress axis.