Plane Strain

Plane Strain
• The state of strain where the only permissible strains
(non-zero) are those that lie within a plane i.e.
 x  y  xy are non zero; while  zz   zx   zy  0
 i.e. deformations of the material take place in parallel planes and
are the same in each of those planes.
 In tensor notation :
  xx  xy  xz    xx  xy 0
   
 ij    yx  yy  yz    ij    yx  yy 0
 
 zy  zz   0 
 zx  0 0
Plane Strain
• The Plane Strain approximation require that,
• The load is uniformly distributed along the out of
plane axis of the body and acts perpendicular to it
• The body is not allowed to bend stretch or shorten.
• Examples: Dams, tunnels
and thick walled pressure
vessels

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_analysis

Plane Strain
 Examples:
A plate subjected along its edges to a
uniformly distributed load and restrained
from expanding or contracting laterally by
smooth, rigid and fixed supports [1]
 Consider a long bar subjected to uniformly
distributed transverse loads. State of plane
strain exists in any transverse section not
located too close to the ends of the bar [1]

[1] Lecture Notes of J. Walt Oler (Texas Tech University) for the book Mechanics of Materials
3rd Edition – Beer-Johnston-Dewolf,
Mohr Circle
• If shear angle 𝛾𝑥𝑦 is positive there is decrease in angle between
segment dx and dy at a point, so 𝜀𝑥𝑦 would be negative as dx rotates
toward y direction (counter clockwise).
Mohr Circle
• If shear angle 𝛾𝑥𝑦 is negative there is increase in angle between
segment dx and dy at a point, so 𝜀𝑥𝑦 would be positive as dx rotates
away from y direction (clockwise).
Mohr Circle
Example 8.2
Thick walled cylinders
Thick walled cylinders
• Now consider strains in the element. By symmetry there is no θ
displacement v. there is only a radial displacement u given by line aa’.
• Point c is displaced radially by (u + du) given by line cc’. As the original
radial length of the element is dr(line ac), the radial strain is:
• Line ab has length rdθ and line a’b’ has length (r + u)dθ. The
tangential strain is thus
• A machine supplies fluid at high pressure (i.e. 30 MPa or 300 bars) to
derive an actuator. The machine is expected to operate at a depth of
around 1000 m below sea level (outside pressure approx 10MPa or
100 bar).
• The fluid is delivered through a tube with inner diameter of 5 mm and
outer diameter of 8mm. The tube is constrained at both ends from
moving (or expanding) along the length of the tube).
• Assuming that the tube is made of stainless steel S40500, calculate
the hoop, longitudinal and radial stresses at inner surface and middle
section (radially) and outer surface of the tube.