1

Lesson 3 – Poisson’s Ratio: Biaxial and Triaxial

Deformation

Another type of elastic deformation is the change in transverse dimensions accompanying axial
tension or compression. Experiments show that if a bar is lengthened by axial tension, there is a
reduction in the transverse dimensions. Simeon D. Poisson showed that the ratio of the unit deformations
or strains in these directions is constant for stresses within the proportional limit. This ratio is named
after him; it is denoted by  ;
y z
v 
x x

where x = the strain due only to stress in the x direction

y, z = the strains induced in the perpendicular directions.
The minus sign indicates a decrease in transverse dimensions when x is positive.
If an element is subjected simultaneously to tensile stresses in the x and y directions, the total
strain in the x direction will be
 y
x  x 
E E

and the total strain in the y direction is

y x
y  
E E
For the simultaneous action of triaxial tensile stresses:

x 
1
E
 
x  v  y  z  y 
1
E
 
 y  v x   z  z 
1
E
 
z  v  x  y 

All these equations are valid for compressive effects also; it is only necessary to assign positive signs to
elongations and tensile stresses, and conversely, negative signs to contractions and compressive
stresses.
A relation among the constants for a given material which is useful for computing values of 
when E and G have been determined is expressed by
G  E
2 1  ν 

Sample problems
Here are sample problems for you to study. If you have any questions
with the solution, please feel free to consult your instructor.

1. A 20-mm-diameter rod made of an experimental plastic is subjected to a tensile force of

magnitude P = 6 kN. Knowing that an elongation of 14 mm and a decrease in diameter of
0.85 mm are observed in a 150-mm length, determine
a. the modulus of elasticity,
b. Poisson’s ratio for the material, and
c. the modulus of rigidity.
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Solution:
a. Use the formula for axial deformation
PL 6 103 (150)
 ; 14  ; E = 204.628 MPa answer
AE 
(202 ) 106 E
4
b. Poisson’s ratio is equal to the lateral strain divided by the axial strain
0.85
y
  20  0.455 answer
x 14
150
E 204.628 answer
c. G    70.319 MPa
2(1  v) 2(1  0.455)

2. An aluminum plate (E = 74 GPa, v = 0.33) is subjected to a centric axial load that causes a
normal stress σ. Knowing that, before loading, a line of slope 2:1 is scribed on the plate,
determine the slope of the line when σ = 125 MPa.

Solution:
In the x-direction:
x 
1
 
 x  y ; x

1
125  0.33(0)  1.6892103
E 1 74  103
In the y-direction:
y 
1
 
 y  x ;
y

1
0  0.33(125)  ; Δy = –1.1149 × 10–3
E 2 74  103
2  0.0011149
Slope =  1.995514 answer
1  0.0016892

3. A high-strength steel rod with E = 200 GPa and  = 0.3 is compressed by an axial force P.
When there is no axial load, the diameter of the rod is exactly 50 mm. In order to maintain
certain clearances, the diameter of the rod must not exceed 50.025 mm under load. What is
the largest permissible load P?

50 mm

P P

Solution:
y x
In the direction of the diameter:
y  
E E
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0.025 P
 0  0.3

50
502  200   10 3
4
P = 654.5 kN answer

4. A thin plate is in a state of plane stress and has dimensions of 8 in. in the x direction and 4
in. in the y direction. The plate increases in length in the x direction by 0.0016 in. and
decreases in the y direction by 0.00024 in. Compute x and y to cause these deformations.
E = 29  106 psi and v = 0.30.
y

4 x

8

Solution:
In the x-direction: In the y-direction:
σx σ σy σ
x   ν y y   ν x
E E E E
0.0016 σ x σ - 0.00024 σy σx
  0.3 y   0.3
8 E E 4 29 10 6
29 10 6
5800 = x  0.3y Eq. 1 1740 = y  0.3x Eq. 2
Solve Eq. 1 and Eq. 2 simultaneously:
answer
x = 5800 psi and y = 0

5. A 150-mm long bronze tube, closed at its ends, is 80 mm in diameter and has a wall thickness
of 3 mm. It fits without clearance in an 80-mm hole in a rigid block. The tube is then
subjected to an internal pressure of 4 MPa. Assuming v = ⅓ and E = 83 GPa, determine the
tangential stress in the tube.
y

150 mm x

Solution: 80 mm

σx σ
Taking the x-direction: x   ν y; 0
σt σ
 ν l
E E E E
0 = t  vl ; t = vl
pD pD = 1 4(80)
Substitute the longitudinal stress,  l  : σt = 1
3 4(3)
4t 3 4t
t = 8.889 MPa answer
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6. A rectangular steel block is 3 in. long in the x direction, 2 in. long in the y direction, and 4
in. long in the z direction. The block is subjected to triaxial loading consisting of three
uniformly distributed forces as follows: 48 kips tension in the x direction, 60 kips compression
in the y direction, and 54 kips tension in the z direction. If v = 0.30 and E = 29  106 psi,
determine the single uniformly distributed load in the x direction that would produce the
same deformation in the y direction as the original loading.

z
Solution:
Pz Total strain in the y-direction:
σ σ σ
y  y  ν x  v z
E E E
Py P P
2 in
Px =  v x  v z
Py Py
AE AE AE
= 60000  0.3 48000  0.3 54000
y
4 in
3(4) E 2(4) E 3(2) E
Px
y =  9500
E
3 in

x
Pz

Stress in the x-direction due to a single load if y =  9500 :

E
σ
 9500 =  ν x
E E
x = 31666.667 psi
Px
Required load: σx 
A
Px = 31666.667(8)
Px = 253.333 kips answer

In this lesson, you learned the following:

 Axial deformation is accompanied by a change in dimension
in the transverse direction.
 The ratio of the strain in the transverse direction and the
axial strain is constant, called the Poisson’s ratio.
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Lesson 4 – Thermal Stresses

When a material body is subjected to changes in temperature, it will expand when the
temperature increases and contract when it decreases.
Changes in temperature cause bodies to expand or contract characterized by the
coefficient of thermal expansion, , which is the strain due to a 1-degree temperature change.
The amount of linear deformation, T is expressed by the relation
T = L(T)
where: T = linear deformation caused by a change in temperature
L = the length
T = the temperature change.

If a temperature deformation is permitted to occur freely as by the use of expansion

joints, no load or stress will be induced in the structure. But in some cases, it may not be
feasible to permit these temperature deformations; the result is that internal forces are
created that resist them. The stresses caused by these internal forces are known as thermal
stresses.

Change in unit length is denoted as ε and E = s/ ε or s = εE. Hence the unit stress produced
in a fully restrained bar by a temperature change t is
S = ET
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Sample problems
Here are sample problems for you to study. If you have any questions
with the solution, please feel free to consult your instructor.

1. The rails of a railroad track are welded together at their ends (to form continuous rails and
thus eliminate the clacking sound of the wheels) when the temperature is 60°F. What
compressive stress σ is produced in the rails when they are heated by the sun to 120°F if the
coefficient of thermal expansion α = 6.5 × 10–6/°F and the modulus of elasticity E = 30 × 106
psi?
Solution:
The deformation caused by the change in temperature is equal to the deformation due
to the induced load:
L
 P  T ;  LT ;   ET
E
answer
  30 106 (6.5 106 )(120  60) = 11700 psi

2. An aluminum pipe has a length of 60 m at a temperature of 10°C. An adjacent steel pipe at

the same temperature is 5 mm longer than the aluminum pipe. At what temperature (degrees
Celsius) will the aluminum pipe be 15 mm longer than the steel pipe? Assume that the
coefficients of thermal expansion of aluminum and steel are αa = 23 × 10–6/°C and as = 12 ×
10–6/°C, respectively.
Solution:
At 10°C: After the change in temperature:
δa
60 m 5 mm 5 mm
60 m
aluminum
aluminum
steel
steel
δS 15 mm

 a  5   S  15 ;  a   S  20

LT a  LT S  20 103

23106 (60)T  12 106 (60.005)T  20 103

ΔT = 30.31°

Tf = 30.31 + 10 = 40.31°C answer

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3. A steel rod of diameter 15 mm is held snugly (but without any initial stresses) between rigid
walls by the arrangement shown in the figure. Calculate the temperature drop ΔT, in degrees
Celsius, at which the average shear stress in the 12-mm diameter bolt becomes 45 MPa. For
the steel rod, use as = 12 × 10–6/°C and E = 200 GPa.

Solution:
P
V 2
Axial load in the bolt:  ; 45 10 
6
; P = 10178.76 N
A
4
 
 2
12 106

L
 P  T ;  LT ;   ET
E
P
 ET ;
10178.76

 200 109 12 10 6 T 
A 
4
 
152 10 6
answer
ΔT = 24°C

4. A steel wire AB is stretched between rigid supports. The initial prestress in the wire is 42
MPa when the temperature is 20°C. What is the stress in the wire when the temperature
drops to 0°C? Assume αs = 14 × 10–6/°C and E = 200 GPa.
Solution:
L
Total deformation:   T   P ;  LT 
PL
E AE
 
  ET   P  200109 14 106 20  42 106
σ = 98 MPa answer

5. A steel rod with a cross-sectional area of 0.25 in2 is stretched between two fixed points. The
tensile load at 70F is 1200 lb. What will be the stress at 0F? At what temperature will the
stress be zero? Assume  = 6.5  106 in/(in-F) and E = 29  106 psi.

Solution:
a) Stress at 0F: T=P  L T = PL
AE
6.5  106 L (70) = PL ; P = 3298.75 lb
0.25(29 10 6 )
Final stress: f = i + P
1200 3298.75
= +
0.25 0.25
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f = 17995 psi answer

b) Temperature when the stress is zero:
 T =  P;  L T = PL
AE
6.5  106 L (T ) = PL ; P = 47.125 T
0.25(29 10 6 )
Assuming the temperature decreases:
f = i + P

0=
1200
+
47.125 ΔT
0.25 0.25
T = 25.46 F (temperature must increase)
Tf = 70 + 25.46 = 95.46 F answer

6. Calculate the increase in stress for each segment of the compound bar shown if the
temperature increases by 100F. Assume that the supports are unyielding and that the bar is
suitably braced to prevent buckling.

Aluminum Steel
A = 2 in2 A = 1.5 in2
E = 10 ×106 psi E = 29 ×106 psi
α = 12.8 ×106 /F α = 6.5 ×106
R /F R
Aluminum Steel

10 in 15 in

Solution:
Axial Forces: Pa = R and Ps = R
Relationship of deformations: T=P
aT + sT = aP + sP
R1 (10) R1 (15)
12.8  10 6 (10)(100)  6.5  10 6 (15)(100)  

2 10  10 6
 
1.5 29  106 
R1 = 26691.837 lb
Stresses: a = 26691.837 = 13345.918 psi answer
2
s = 26691.837 = 17794.558 psi answer
1.5
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7. The rigid bar ABC is pinned at B and attached to the two vertical rods. Initially, the bar is
horizontal and the vertical rods are stress-free. Determine the stress in the aluminum rod
if the temperature of the steel rod is decreased by 40C. Neglect the weight of bar ABC.

s
Aluminum
Steel L = 1.2 m
L = 0.9 m A = 1200 mm2 a
A = 300 mm2 E = 70 GPa
E = 200 GPa α = 23 μm/(m-C)
α = 11.7 μm/(m-C) Ps Pa
B
A C B

0.6 m 1.2 m

Solution:
When the temperature decreases, point A will go up because the steel rod will
contract. Since the bar ABC is rigid, it will rotate at B, hence, point B goes down or
the aluminum rod will elongate.
From the deformation diagram:
δs δ 2s = δa
 a ;
0.6 1.2

2(0.4212×10–3 – 1.5×10–8Ps) = 1.4286×10–8Pa Eq. 1

For steel:
T = L T = 11.7  106(0.9)(40) = 0.4212 mm
Ps (0.9)
P   1.5 10 8 P s
300(200)  10 3

s = δT – δP
For aluminium:
Pa (1.2)
P   1.4286  10 8 Pa
1200 (70)  10 3

From the FBD of the bar:

∑MB = 0] 0.6Ps – 1.2Pa = 0 Eq. 2

Solving Eq. 1 and Eq. 2 simultaneously,

Ps = 22680 N; Pa = 11340 N
Stress in aluminum:
P 11340 answer
 ; = = 9.45 MPa
A 1200 10 -6
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8. A rigid bar of negligible weight is supported as shown in the figure. If W = 80 kN, compute
the temperature change that will cause the stress in the steel rod to be 55 MPa.
Ps Pb

Bronze A
L=3m
Steel A = 1300 mm2
L = 1.5 m E = 83 GPa
A = 320 mm2
α = 18.9 μm/(m-C)
1m E = 200 GPa 80 kN
α = 11.7 μm/(m-C)

B 1.5 m C s
A 2.5 m b

Solution:
Axial force in steel:
Ps = 55(320) = 17600 N
From the FBD of the bar:
MA = 0] 2.5(80) – Ps – 4Pb = 0
2.5(80) – 17.6 – 4Pb = 0 ; Pb = 45.6 kN
If there is an increase in temperature:
δsP  δsT δ P  δT
 b b
1 4
4sP + 4sT = bP + bT
4( 55 10 (1.5) ) + 4(11.7  106)(1.5)T = 45.6 10 (3)3 + 18.9  106(3)T
6 3

200 10 9
1300(83) 10
T = 28.31C (there must be a decrease in temperature) answer

In this lesson, you learned the following:

 Materials expand or contract when there is a change in
temperature.
 Thermal stresses are the stresses due to the induced load
created to resist the deformation caused by the change in
temperature