Question Bank 3

1. Show that the symmetry of the stress tensor is not valid if there are body moments per
unit volume.

2. Consider the following stress matrix:

 
x2 −x3 0
σ = α −x3 0 −x2  GP a
0 −x2 σ33

Find an expression for σ33 such that the stress matrix satisfies the equations of equilibrium
in the presence of body force vector b = −ge3 , where g is a constant.

3. In the absence of body forces, do the following stress components satisfy the equations of
equilibrium?

σ11 = α x22 + ν x21 − x22 , σ22 = α x21 + ν x22 − x21 , σ33 = αν x21 + x22

 


σ12 = σ21 = −2ανx1 x2 , σ13 = σ31 = 0, σ23 = σ32 = 0

4. Suppose that the stress distribution has the form (called a plane stress state)
 
σ11 σ12 0
σ = σ12 σ22 0
0 0 0

where all the non-zero components are functions of x1 and x2 .

(a) If the state of stress is in equilibrium, can the body forces be dependent on x3 ?
2 2
(b) Demonstrate that if we introduce a function φ(x1 , x2 ) such that σ11 = ∂∂xφ2 , σ22 = ∂∂xφ2 and
2 1
2φ
σ12 = − ∂x∂1 ∂x2
,
then the equations of equilibrium are satisfied in the absence of body forces
for any φ(x1 , x2 ) that is continuous up to the third derivatives.

5. The principal values of a stress tensor σ are σ1 = 10M P a., σ2 = −10M P a. and
σ3 = 30M P a. If the matrix of the stress is given by:
 
σ11 0 0
σ =  0 1 2  × 10 M P a
0 2 σ33

find the values of σ11 and σ33 .

6. The state of stress at a certain point in a body is given by:

 
2 −1 3
σ = −1 4 0  M P a.
3 0 −1
(a) Find the traction vector at a point on the plane whose normal is in the direction of
2e1 + 2e2 + e3 .
(b) Determine the magnitude of the normal and shearing stresses on this plane.

7. For any stress state σ , we define the deviatoric stress S to be S = σ − σ11 +σ322 +σ33 I,

where (σ11 + σ22 + σ33 ) is the trace of σ , also known as the first invariant of the stress tensor
σ . I is the identity matrix.
(a) Show that the first invariantof the deviatoric
 stress vanishes.
6 5 −2
(b) Given the stress tensor σ =  5 3 4  kP a. , evaluate S.
−2 4 9

8. A two-dimensional state of stress exists in a body with no body forces. The follow-
ing components of stress are given:

σ11 = c1 x32 + c2 x21 x2 − c3 x1 , σ22 = c4 x32 − c5 , σ12 = c6 x1 x22 + c7 x21 x2 − c8

where ci are constants. Determine the conditions on the constants so that the stress field is
in equilibrium.

9. Determine the stress components acting on the inclined plane AB in Figure 1. Solve the
problem using the method of stress transformation described in the class.

Figure 1: Problem 9

0 0
10. Prove that the sum of the normal stresses σ11 + σ22 = σ11 + σ22 is a constant. Note that
0 0 0 0
σ11 , and σ22 are normal stresses with respect to the e1 and e2 coordinate system as show in
Figure 2.

11. Find the values of σs and σ22 for the state of the stress shown in Figure 3.

12. Determine the equivalent state of stress on an element at the same point that represents
 Figure 2: Problem 10

Figure 3: Problem 11

the principal stresses at the point. Also, find the corresponding orientation of the element
with respect to the element shown in Figure 4.

13. Determine the equivalent state of stress on an element at the same point oriented 60◦
clockwise with respect to the element shown in Figure 5. Sketch the results on the element.
 Figure 4: Problem 12

Figure 5: Problem 13

14. Using Figure 6 determine the equivalent state of stress on an element at the same point
which represents
(a) the principal stress, and
(b) the maximum in-plane shear stress and the associated average normal stress.
(c) Also, for each case, determine the corresponding orientation of the element with respect
to the element shown and sketch the results on the element.

15. Given  
0 100 0
σ = 100 0 0 M P a.
0 0 0
(a) Find the magnitude of shearing stress on the plane whose normal is in the direction of
e1 + e2 .
(b) Find the maximum and minimum normal stresses and the planes on which they act.
(c) Find the maximum shearing stress and the plane on which it acts.
 Figure 6: Problem 14

16. The stress state in a two dimensional body, in which the only non-vanishing stress
components are a single pair of shearing stresses is called simple shear. Take σ12 = σ21 = τ
and all other components of σ equal to zero.
(a) Find the principal values and principal directions of this stress state.
(b) Find the maximum shearing stress and planes on which it acts.

17. The state of stress at a point is shown in Figure 7 on the element. Determine
(a) the principal stresses, and
(b) the maximum in-plane shear stress and average normal stress at the point.
(c) specify the orientation of the element in each case.

Figure 7: Problem 17
18. Given the following stress distribution:
 
x1 + x2 σ12 (x1 , x2 ) 0
σ = σ12 (x1 , x2 ) x1 − 2x2 0  kP a
0 0 x2

find σ12 so that the stress distribution is in equilibrium with zero body force and so that the
traction vector on the plane x1 = 1 is given by t = (1 + x2 )e1 + (5 − x2 )e2 .

19. The state of stress at a point in a member is shown in Figure 8 on the element. Deter-
mine the stress components acting on the plane AB.

Figure 8: Problem 19