CIVL4760
Lecture 2: Mohr Circle Stress
Analysis
Prof. Gang Wang
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
March 5, 2019
Stress State in 2D and 3D
Matrix notation of the stress tensor
xx xy xz
yx yy yz
zx zy zz
By convention, compression
Right-handed is positive (Geomechanics
coordinate system Sign Convention)
Principal Stresses
2
3
1
Three principal stresses
(orthogonal)
xx xy xz 1 0 0
0
yx yy yz
2 0
zx zy zz 0 0 3
Stress Transformation
y' y'
Use Geomechanics Sign Convention x'x'
y' y'x'
A’
B’
x' y' x' y'
y'x'
y' y' x'
x'x'
x' y'
Mohr Circle – Sign Convention
A
Positive Stresses
B
A
𝜎𝑦𝑥
Sign Convention (only for Mohr circle):
(+)
(1) Normal stresses are considered POSITIVE 𝜎𝑥𝑥
𝜎𝑦𝑦
if they are COMPRESSIVE
(−)
(2) A shear stress is considered POSITIVE if
it is COUNTERCLOCKWISE (right
hand rule!)
B
Mohr Circle: representing the same stress at a
point in different coordinates
A’
A A
B
2
2
B
B’ y' y'
𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 x'x'
y' y'x'
2 A’
B’
x' y' x' y'
y'x'
y' y' x'
x'x'
x' y'
Mohr-Circle: find the pole
The point on the Mohr
circle called the POLE or
Origin of Planes has a
special property:
Any straight line drawn
𝜎1
through the POLE will
𝜎2
intersect the Mohr circle at a
point which represents the
𝜎2 state of stress on a plan
inclined at the same
𝜎1 orientation in space as the
line.
The principal stresses
xx yy yy
2
1,2 xy2 xx
2 2
Example 1
• Known: stresses on an
element ( 1 , 3 )
• Required: stresses on
inclined plane of 35o
Example 1
A
40
B
30
20
• Plot stress on
10
plane A and B;
construct the 0 B
Mohr circle 0 10 20 30 40 50 A 60 n
through A and B. -10
-20
Example 1 Hint:
(1) If you draw a horizontal line through the
pole, it will pass A
(2) If you draw a vertical line through the pole,
it will pass B.
A Where is the Pooh?
40
B
30
20
10
• Find the “pole”. 0 B
0 10
Pole
20 30 40 50 A 60 n
-10
-20
Example 1
40
30
20
(39,18.6)
10
• Find the stress 35o
0
on any direction 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 n
through the pole. Pole
-10
-20
Example 1
40
30
20
(39,18.6)
10
• Interpret the 35o
0
stresses using 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 n
sign convention. Pole
-10
-20
Example 1
40
30
20
10
• Stress state on
0
any arbitrary 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 n
plane Pole
-10
-20
Example 2
• Known: stresses on an
element ( 1 , 3 )
• Required: stresses on
inclined plane of 35o
Example 2
A
40
B
30
20
• Plot stress on
10
plane A and B;
construct the 0 B
Mohr circle 0 10 20 30 40 50 A 60 n
through A and B. -10
-20
Example 2
The SAME solution as Example 1
A
40
B
30
20
(39,18.6)
• Blue line pass 10 Pole
through point A and
pole; 0 B
• Orange line passes 0 10 20 30 40 50 A 60 n
through point B and -10
pole
• Where is the pole?
-20
Example 3
Given:
Stress shown on the element in the left
A figure
C B Determine:
• Stresses on incline plane C (𝛼 = 30°);
• Principal stresses and direction
• Maximum shear and direction
Example 3
A
B 4
2 A (6,2)
n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Plot stress on
plane A and B; B -2
construct the (-4, -2)
Mohr circle -4
through A and B.
Example 3
A
B 4
Pole 2 A (6,2)
n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Blue line pass
through point A and B -2
pole; (-4, -2)
• Orange line passes -4
through point B and
pole
• Where is the pole?
Example 3
C (1.8,5.3)
A
B 4
C
Pole 2 A (6,2)
(-4, 2)
n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Stresses on inclined
B -2
plane C; (-4, -2)
-4
1 6.4
Example 3
3
4.4
A 11°
B 4
Pole
2 A (6,2)
(-4, 2)
1 n
3 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Principal stresses
B -2
and direction (-4, -2)
h v v
2
1,2 h
2
-4
2 2
6 (4) 4 6
2
(2) 2
2 2
6.4 (or 4.4)
Example 3
shear stress is maximum
Pole 2 A (6,2)
n
-4 -2 0 2 4 6
• Maximum shear
B -2
and direction (-4, -2)
-4
Example 4
Two planes, A and B, are separated by an
unknown angle 𝜃.
On plane A, 𝜎𝑎 =10 kPa, 𝜏𝑎 = +2 kPa.
A Plane A lies 15° from the horizontal, as
shown in the figure. The stress on plane B
are 𝜎𝑏 =9 kPa, 𝜏𝑏 = −3 kPa.
H Determine:
• Major and minor principal stresses and
their orientation
Plane B ? • Stresses on horizontal plane H;
• Find the angle between planes A and B.
Example 4
A
Pole
H 𝜃 = 46° A (10, 2)
n
Plane B ?
Determine:
B (9, -3)
• Principal stresses and direction
• Stresses on horizontal plane H;
Plane B
• Angle between planes A and B.
Example 4
A
n
Plane B ?
Determine:
• Principal stresses and direction
• Stresses on horizontal plane H;
• Angle between planes A and B.
Example 5 The stress on an element is known
Determine:
• The magnitude and direction of
principal stresses
X (4, 2)
Where is Pole? Y (8, -2)
Example 5 The stress on an element is known
Determine:
• Principal stresses and direction
Example 6 (Triaxial Compression)
1
3
45o / 2
3 1 σ
