Centre of Advanced Design Engineering

ENG4082 Mathematics and Mechanics

MOHRS
STRESS
CIRCLE
NOTES

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ENG4082 Mathematics and Mechanics

General Plane Stress Transformations.

The most general state of stress in two dimensions results in the element shown in the
left side of the figure. Here the shear stresses on the faces with normal stresses
pointing along the x and y axes are taken to be positive because they also point along
the positive x and y axes.

We shall consider the triangular element on the right to establish equations for the
stresses on any plane.

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Mohr's Stress Circle
The stress transformation equations can be represented graphically by a circle drawn in
stress space. A force and moment balance can be carried out which results in the
following equations

Stress normal to the cut surface, ,

( ) ( )

And the shear stress parallel to the cut surface,

( )

If we square both sides and add the equations then we have

[ ( )] ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

Or

[ ( )] ( )

This can be compared with the standard equation of a circle

( ) ( )

A plot of against will then be a circle with centre at the point

[ ( ) ]

and with radius given by

( )

( )

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Construction of Mohr's Circle

a) Determine the stresses acting on an element at the point of interest.

b) Draw axes in stress space with shear stress on the ordinate and normal stress
on the abscissa.

c) Plot the stresses on the two adjacent planes AB and BC as points in the stress
space. NOTE the sign for the shear stress is taken positive for clockwise
action.

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d) Join the two points with a straight line. The point where this line crosses the
normal stress axis is the centre of Mohr's circle.

e) Draw Mohr's circle using the line joining the points as a diameter.
f)

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g) The extreme limits of the circle on the normal stress axis give the two principal
stresses. The angle between the radius to the point representing plane AB and
the horizontal axis is TWICE the angle between the x axis and the line of action
of the major principal stress.

h) The angle of the principal planes from that normal to the x axis (AB) is found from

( )
( )

( )
( )

i) The maximum shear stress is equal in magnitude to the radius of the circle and
can be given by

The maximum shear stress acts on planes at 45 to the directions of the principal
stresses.

j) The stresses on any plane at angle to the AB plane can be found by taking the
coordinates of the point on the circle arrived at by moving around an angle 2
from the point representing the plane AB.

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Special Cases.
Simple Tension, Compression or Bending.
Here the stress is uni-axial and if we take the stress to be in the x direction we have the
following.

Pure Shear (Torsion)

Here we have only shear stresses and the resulting circle has its centre on the origin.

Eccentric Loading
In the case of combined bending and tension which produce stresses along the same
axis there is no need to use Mohr's circle to find the maximum stresses and they can be
added algebraically.
Both normal and bending stresses can be generated by a single force if the force is
applied at a point removed from the Neutral Axis as shown below.

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The net stress is given by

Bending and Torsion of Circular Shafts.

The similarity in the stress equations allows us to simplify the equation for principal
stresses so that it is not necessary to calculate the individual shear and normal
stresses.

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

[ ]

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ENG4082 Mathematics and Mechanics

Example Combined Loading Case and Mohrs Stress Circle

A vertical force P is applied to the crank at the point A in the line of action as shown in
Figure Q3. The necessary operating data is as given to each student in the table given
overleaf. For your individual load configuration: -

a) Calculate the bending moment and torque experienced by the shaft at position H,

b) Calculate the stress due to bending at position H,

c) Calculate shear stress at position H

d) Draw the stress element at position H labelling all relevant values,

e) Determine the principal stresses for the element given in part d),

f) Construct Mohrs Stress Circle of the stress element labelling all principal values
and determine the angle between the applied bending stress and the largest
principal stress.

a (mm)

Shaft diameter, b, (mm)

c (mm)
o

d (mm)

e (mm)

Loaded System Configuration

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Solution

Combined Loading Case Example Case

a b c d e P
(m) (m) (m) (m) (N) (deg)
(m)
1 10.0 10.0 10.0 100.0 75.0 250 30

Bending Moment at H ( )

Torque at H ( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

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Stress Element at H

sy = 0 MN/m2

t = 63.66 MN/m2
xy

s = 216.5 MN/m2
sx x

txy

sy

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

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tstress max (108.3) Series1

150

Stress, t

100

50
sp1
2p

0
-50 0 50 100 150 200 250
sp2 Stress, s

-50

-100

-150

Mohrs Stress Circle

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Exercises

1. An axial tensile load of 10 kN is applied to a 12 mm diameter bar. Determine the

maximum shearing stress in the bar and the planes on which it acts. Calculate also
the normal stresses on these planes. (44 MNm-2 at 45 and 135, 44 MNm-2)

2. A material is subjected to two mutually perpendicular stresses, one 60 MNm-2

compressive and the other 45 MNm-2 tensile. Determine the direct and shear
stresses on a plane inclined at 60 to the plane on which the 45 MNm-2 stress acts.
(-33.8, -45.5 MNm-2)

3. The material of Problem 2 is now subjected to an additional shearing stress of

50 MNm-2. Determine the principal stresses acting on the material and the maximum
shear stress.
(65, -80, 72.5 MNm-2)

4. At a certain section in a material under stress, normal stresses of 45 MNm -2 tensile

and 75 MNm-2 tensile act on perpendicular planes together with a shear stress
acting on these planes. If the maximum stress in the material is limited to 150 MNm -2
tensile determine the value of . (88.7 MNm-2)

5. At a certain point in a material the following stresses act: a tensile stress of

150 MNm-2, a compressive stress of 105 MNm-2 at right angles to the tensile stress
and a shear stress clockwise in effect of 110 MNm -2 acting on the plane bearing the
150 MNm-2 stress. Calculate the principal stresses and the directions of the
principal planes.
(191,-146 MNm-2; at 20.4 and 110.4 counterclockwise to the 150 MNm-2 plane)

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6. At a point in a strained material the stresses acting on planes at right angles to each
other are 200 MNm-2 tensile and 80 MNm-2 compressive, together with associated
shear stresses which may be assumed clockwise in effect on the 80 MNm-2 planes.
If the principal stress is limited to 320 MNm-2 tensile, calculate:
a) the magnitude of the shear stresses, (219 MNm-2)
b) the directions of the principal planes, (28.7 & 118.7 ccw to 200 MNm-2 plane)
c) the other principal stress, (200 MNm-2)
d) the maximum shear stress. (260 MNm-2)

7. A shaft 100 mm diameter is subjected to a twisting moment of 7 kNm, together with

a bending moment of 2 kNm. Find, at the surface of the shaft:
a) the principal stresses, (47.3, -26.9 MNm-2)
b) the maximum shear stress. (37.1 MNm-2)
8. The tightening of a bolt induces in the shank a tensile direct stress 155 MNm-2 and a
shear stress due to the applied torque of 93 MNm-2. Determine the magnitude and
nature of the principal direct stresses and the principal (maximum) shear stress
induced in the shank of the bolt, together with the inclination of the planes on which
these stresses act. You may assume that the induced stresses are uniformly
distributed over the shank cross section. (198 MNm-2, -43.5 MNm-2 121 MNm-2)

9. The 8 mm diameter rivet (cross sectional area 50 x 10-6 m2) shown, is subjected to
an axial tensile force of 4 kN due to the cooling of the rivet. Determine the shearing
force "P" which may be applied to the joint if the maximum principal stress must not
exceed 150 MNm-2. (5.13 kN)

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10. A solid shaft 100 mm in diameter is subjected to a torque of 3.4 kNm and a bending
moment of 900 Nm. Determine the principal stresses on the surface of the shaft.

11. A solid shaft 75 mm in diameter and spanning 3 m between bearings has a pulley of
mass 230 kg mounted at the centre of the span. The maximum speed is to be
200 rev/min when transmitting 30 kW. Find the maximum principal stress in the
shaft.

12. A structure is composed of circular members with diameter 20 mm. At a particular

point along one member the loading is found to consist of a shear force of 10 kN and
a tensile force of 20 kN. Calculate the safety factor involved in the design if the
maximum principal stress is not to exceed 350 MNm-2.

13. The loading on a bolt consists of a tensile force of 10 kN and a shear force of 5 kN.
Using a safety factor of 3 calculate the minimum diameter d of the bolt if the
maximum principal stress of the bolt material should not exceed 280 MNm-2.

14. A solid circular shaft of 125 mm diameter rotates at 30 rad/s. Owing to the
configuration of the bearings and the gearing, it is subjected to a maximum bending
moment of 9 kNm. If the maximum principal stress should not exceed 300 MNm-2,
calculate the power which the shaft may transmit.

15. (OEQ)
a) A sheet of a fibre reinforced composite material is subjected to a tensile stress of
80 MNm-2. The fibres in the composite all lie in a direction which is at 60 to the
direction of the stress. The material has a tensile strength of 150 MNm-2 in the
direction of the fibres but in the direction perpendicular to the fibres the tensile
strength is only 50 MNm-2. Determine whether the sheet will fail.
b) A steel bolt has a diameter of 10 mm and is used to withstand a tensile load of
11 kN. During installation the bolt also receives a torque of 90 Nm. Calculate the
maximum shear stress in the bolt during the tightening operation.

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16. (OEQ) The figure shows a pulley which is fixed to the

unsupported end of a solid circular shaft projecting from a
fixed bearing. The pulley carries a belt drive which has a tight
tension of 4 kN and a slack tension of 1 kN.
a) Identify the states (types) of stress in the shaft,
b) Identify the points on the shaft where the greatest principal
stresses can be found,
c) Determine the values of the greatest principal stresses in
the shaft,
d) Calculate the maximum shear stress in the shaft.

17. (OED) The figure shows a rectangular bar fixed securely to the end of a circular bar.
The axis of the rectangular bar is at 90 to the axis of the circular bar. The other end
of the circular bar is rigidly built-in.
a) Identify the states (types) of stress in the rectangular bar and the circular bar,
b) Identify the point on the circular bar where the greatest principal stresses can be
found,
c) At the point identified in (b) calculate:
i. the greatest principal
stresses,
ii. maximum shear stress in the
circular bar.

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