Department of Aeronautical Engineering
Chapter-2
Principal stresses and strains
Study Guide
Prof. Dubbaka Naveen
Aero, PIET
Parul University
1. Hooks law for 3D body ……………..………………...…........................................... 1
2. Plane stress and strain condition..………………….…………………………………….….. 3
3. Principal stresses and principal planes……………………………………………………….4
4. 2-Dimensional stress system………………………………………………………………………6
5. Stresses on an inclined plane……………………………………………………………………..6
6. Mohr’s circle……………………………………………………………………………………………….8
[Link] law for 3D body
Generally, except in cases of uniform stress, the direct and shear stresses on opposite faces of an
element are not equal as indicated in Fig. 2.1 but differ by small amounts. Therefore if, say, the direct
stress acting on the z plane is σ z then the direct stress acting on the z+δz plane is, from the first two
terms of a Taylor’s series expansion, σz +(∂σz/∂z)δz.
Fig2.1 Sign conventions and notation for stresses at a point in a body. (Source: Aircraft Structures
for Engineering Students by megson)
We now investigate the equilibrium of an element at some internal point in an elastic body
where the stress system is obtained by the method just described.
In Fig. 2.2 the element is in equilibrium under forces corresponding to the stresses shown and
the components of body forces (not shown). Surface forces acting on the boundary of the body,
although contributing to the production of the internal stress system, do not directly feature in the
equilibrium equations.
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Fig2.2 Stresses on the faces of an element at a point in an elastic body. (Source: Aircraft Structures
for Engineering Students by megson)
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[Link] stress and strain condition
Most aircraft structural components are fabricated from thin metal sheet so that stresses across
the thickness of the sheet are usually negligible. Assuming, say, that the z axis is in the direction of the
thickness then the three-dimensional case of Section 2.1 reduces to a two-dimensional case in which σ z,
τxz and τyz are all zero. This condition is known as plane stress; the equilibrium equations then simplify to
The triangular element of Fig. 2.3 at the boundary of a two-dimensional body of unit thickness is
then in equilibrium under the action of surface forces on the elemental length AB of the boundary and
internal forces on internal faces AC and CB.
Fig2.3 Stresses on the faces of an element at the boundary of a two-dimensional body. (Source:
Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students by megson)
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where l, m and n become the direction cosines of the angles that a normal to the surface of the
body makes with the x, y and z axes, respectively.
[Link] stresses, principal planes
For given values of σx, σy and τxy, in other words given loading conditions, σn varies with the angle θ
and will attain a maximum or minimum value when dσn/dθ=0.
(2.1)
Two solutions, θ and θ+π/2, are obtained from Eq. (2.1) so that there are two mutually
perpendicular planes on which the direct stress is either a maximum or a minimum. Further, by
comparison of (2.1) it will be observed that these planes correspond to those on which there is no shear
stress. The direct stresses on these planes are called principal stresses and the planes themselves,
principal planes.
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(2.2)
(2.3)
The maximum shear stress at this point in the body may be determined in an identical manner.
(2.4)
(2.5)
Here, as in the case of principal stresses, we take the maximum value as being the greater
algebraic value.
Comparing Eq. (2.5) with Eqs (2.2) and (2.3) we see that
(2.6)
Equations (2.5) and (2.6) give the maximum shear stress at the point in the body in the plane of
the given stresses. For a three-dimensional body supporting a two-dimensional stress system this is not
necessarily the maximum shear stress at the point.
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[Link]-dimensional Stress system
A two-dimensional stress system assumes that stresses act only in a plane (e.g., the x-y plane).
The state of stress at a point can be described using three components:
Normal stresses: σx (along the x-axis) and σy (along the y-axis).
Shear stress: τxy (on the x-face in the y-direction or vice versa).
These stresses are represented as:
[ σ x τ xy
τ xy σ y ]
This matrix describes the stress state at a point in the 2D plane.
[Link] on an inclined plane
The complex stress system of Fig. 2.2 is derived from a consideration of the actual loads applied to a
body and is referred to a predetermined, though arbitrary, system of axes. The values of these stresses
may not give a true picture of the severity of stress at that point so that it is necessary to investigate the
state of stress on other planes on which the direct and shear stresses may be greater.
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Fig2.4 Stresses on a two-dimensional element. (Source: Aircraft Structures for Engineering
Students by megson)
Figure 2.4 shows a complex stress system at a point in a body referred to axes Ox,Oy. All stresses
are positive as defined in Section 2.1. The shear stresses τxy and τyx were shown to be equal in Section
2.1. We now, therefore, designate them both τxy.
The element of side δx,δy and of unit thickness is small so that stress distributions over the sides
of the element may be assumed to be uniform. Body forces are ignored since their contribution is a
second-order term.
Suppose that we require to find the state of stress on a plane AB inclined at an angle θ to the
vertical. The triangular element EDC formed by the plane and the vertical through E is in equilibrium
under the action of the forces corresponding to the stresses shown in Fig. 2.5, where σn and τ are the
direct and shear components of the resultant stress on AB. Then resolving forces in a direction
perpendicular to ED we have
Fig2.5 stresses on an inclined plane at the point. (Source: Aircraft Structures for Engineering
Students by megson)
Dividing through by ED and simplifying
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Now resolving forces parallel to ED
Again dividing through ED and simplifying
[Link]’s circle
The state of stress at a point in a deformable body may be determined graphically by Mohr’s
circle of stress.
In Section 2.5 the direct and shear stresses on an inclined plane were shown to be given by
(2.7)
And
(2.8)
respectively. The positive directions of these stresses and the angle θ are defined in Fig. 2.6(a).
Fig2.6 (a) Stresses on a triangular element; (b) Mohr’s circle of stress for stress system shown in (a).
(Source: Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students by megson)
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Equation (2.7) may be rewritten in the form
Or
Squaring and adding this equation to Eq. (2.7) we obtain
1
which represents the equation of a circle of radius
2 √
(
2 2
σ x −σ y ) + 4 τ xy centre at the point ((σx −
σy)/2, 0).
The circle is constructed by locating the points Q1(σx , τxy) and Q2(σy , −τxy) referred to axes
Oστ as shown in Fig. 2.6(b). The centre of the circle then lies at C the inter section of Q1Q2 and the Oσ
1
axis; clearly C is the point ((σx − σy)/2, 0) and the radius of the circle
2√ 2 2
( σ x −σ y ) + 4 τ xy as required. CQ’
is now set off at an angle 2θ (positive clockwise) to CQ1, Q’ is then the point (σn , −τ) as demonstrated
below. From Fig. 2.6(b) we see that
ON=OC+ CN
Or, since
We have
But
Hence
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Which on rearranging becomes
as in Eq.(2.7). Similarly it may be shown that
The maximum and minimum values of the direct stress, viz. the major and minor principal
stresses σI and σII, occur when N(and Q')coincide with B and A, respectively.
Thus
Or
And in the same fashion
The principal planes are then given by 2θ = β(σI) and 2θ = β + π(σII).
Also the maximum and minimum values of shear stress occur when Q' coincides with D and E at
the upper and lower extremities of the circle.
At these points Q'N is equal to the radius of the circle which is given by
1
Hence τmax,min = ±
2 √
(
2 2
σ x −σ y ) + 4 τ xy as before. The planes of maximum and minimum shear
stress are given by 2θ = β + π/2 and 2θ= β + 3π/2, these being inclined at 45◦ to the principal planes.
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References:
1. Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students by Megson
2. Strength of Materials by Dr R.K Bansal
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