Complex Stress Analysis (Transformation of Stress)

Recall definitions direct stress, σ, and shear stress, 𝜏

Direct stress, σ: Stress due to external force acting perpendicularly to area of material surface supporting it.

Area of surface, A
F F

𝐹
Direct stress, 𝜎=
𝐴

Shear stress, 𝜏: Stress due to external force acting tangentially to area of surface resisting or
supporting it and tending to make layers of the material slide relative to each other.
Area of surface, As

Fs

Fs
𝐹𝑠
Shear stress, 𝜏=
𝐴𝑠

Recall also the common mechanical loading modes and the types of stresses associated with them.
𝐹
 Direct axial (uniaxial, biaxial or triaxial) loading: 𝜎𝑑 = 𝐴
𝑀
 Bending loading: 𝜎𝑏 = 𝐼
y
𝐹𝑠
 Simple shear (single shear or double shear) loading: 𝜏=
𝐴𝑠
𝑇
 Torsion loading (or loading by twisting): 𝜏= 𝐽
𝑟
 Fluid pressure (hydrostatic or mean direct stress) loading:
𝑝𝑑
For thin cylinders: 𝜎𝐻 𝑜𝑟 𝜎𝑐 =
2𝑡
𝑝𝑑
𝜎𝑙 = 4𝑡
For thick cylinders:
𝐵
𝜎𝐻 = 𝐴 + 𝑅2
𝐵
𝜎𝑟 = 𝐴 − 𝑅2
𝜎𝑙 = ?

Design of a component of a machine or structure includes stress analysis that involves one or combination
of these loading modes.

Remember also the following mathematics geometrical relations:

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A material component may fail (e.g. by undesirable deformation or fracture) at interfaces or planes within
the structure of the material and aligned at an angle to the loading surface or plane of the component.

Now, let us see more about this. Consider the following situations that show states of stress at a point on a
component (i.e. stresses due to some particular external loads applied to the component). To determine the
normal stress, 𝜎𝜃 , and shear stress, 𝜏𝜃 on the inclined interface planes shown Figure 3.

Let us consider a simple case of a component under uniaxial tension loading shown in the Figure 1.
Cross-section
Area, A

F
F
P
Figure 1

The state of stress at the elemental point P in the component is shown in Figure 2

𝜎𝑥 𝐹
𝜎𝑥 =
𝐴
Figure 2
Type equation here.

Determine the normal stress, 𝜎𝜃 , and the shear stress, 𝜏𝜃 on an oblique interface AC inclined at angle θ
with the X – axis as shown in Figure 3.
C
t=1
𝜏𝜃
σθ
𝜎𝑥 𝜎𝑥
Figure 3
A B
Forces due to stresses 𝜎𝜃 and 𝜏𝜃 are to balance forces due to external stresses acting on the triangular prism
ABC.
Then apply the force condition for static equilibrium of the interface plane AC to solve for the required
equations for the normal stress, 𝜎𝜃 , and the shear stress, 𝜏𝜃 .
Resolve the forces acting on right angle triangular prism ABC into components perpendicular and parallel
to the plane of interest AC. It should be noted that it is forces, and not stresses, that are being resolved into
their components. See Figure 4. C

𝜎𝜃 *AC*1
𝜎𝑥 *BC*1

Figure 4 A B

For 𝝈𝜽 : ∑ 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 = 0

2
 𝜎𝜃 *AC*1) − 𝜎𝑥 *BC*1*sin θ = 0
𝛔𝛉 = 𝛔𝐱 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝛉

For 𝝉𝜽 : ∑ 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 = 0
𝜏𝜃 *AC*1 − 𝜎𝑥 *BC*1*cos θ = 0
𝟏
𝝉𝜽 = 𝝈𝒙 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽 = 𝝈𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝜽
𝟐
NOTE: It is common practice and more convenient to use double angles instead of products or higher
powers of the trigonometrical ratios.
Next, Let us consider a general case of a two-dimensional complex stress syste.shown in Figure 5.

𝜎𝑦
𝜏𝑥𝑦
D C
B 𝜏𝑥𝑦

τθ
𝜎𝑥 𝜎𝑥

𝜎𝜃

𝜏𝑥𝑦
E A
Figure 5.
𝜏𝑥𝑦
𝜎𝑦
From first principles determine the expressions for normal stress, 𝝈𝜽 , and shear stress, 𝝉𝜽 , on the
oblique plane AC inclined at angle θ as shown in Figure 5.
This can be done by identifying and extracting an appropriate right angled prism ABC that has the oblique
plane AC as the hypotenuse as shown if Figure 6.
Show the forces acting on the prism and the resolve them into components that are perpendicular and parallel
to the oblique plane AC as illustrated for forces acting on plane BC. Do the same for plane AB.

θ
θ° 𝜏𝑥𝑦 BC
C B
𝜏𝑥𝑦 AB

𝜎𝑥 AB
𝜎𝜃 AC

Figure 6
A
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Apply the force condition for static equilibrium of the oblique plane AC to solve for the normal and shear
stresses on the plane.
To start off:

For the normal stress, 𝝈𝜽 :

By refering to Figure 6, balance the forces perpendicular to the plane and show that:
𝜎𝜃 𝐴𝐶 − 𝜎𝑦 𝐵𝐶 sin 𝜃 − 𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝐵𝐶 cos 𝜃 − 𝜏𝑥𝑦 𝐴𝐵 sin 𝜃 − 𝜎𝑥 𝐴𝐵 cos 𝜃 = 0

Continue to show that:

𝜎𝜃 = 𝜎𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝜎𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 + 2𝜏𝑥𝑦 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃, finally show that

𝟏
𝝈𝜽 = 𝟏𝟐 (𝝈𝒙 + 𝝈𝒚 ) + 𝟐
(𝝈𝒙 − 𝝈𝒚 ) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝜽 + 𝝉𝒙𝒚 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝜽. This is the standard expression.

For the shear stress, 𝝉𝜽 :

Refering to the Figure 6 above and without refering to a text book, show that 𝝉𝜽 is given by:
𝟏
𝝉𝜽 = ( 𝝈𝒙 − 𝝈𝒚 ) 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝜽 − 𝝉𝒙𝒚 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝜽. This is the standard expression for 𝝉𝜽 .
𝟐

Alternatively, transforming stress components from one coordinate system (X – Y ) to another

coordinate system (X’ – Y’) at a given point, and relate stresses on different planes that pass through
a common point.
Procedures of relating stresses on different planes in different coordinate systems at a point and
develop ability to visualise planes passing through a point on which stresses are given or are being
found, including the planes of maxiumum normal stress and maximum shear stress. See Figure
below.

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Example:
The stresses on two perpendicular planes through a point in a machinecomponent are 60 N/mm 2 tension, 40
N/mm2 compression and shear stress 30 N/mm2. From first principles, on a plane at 60o to that of the tensile
stress, determine:
(a) The stress components (i.e. the normal stress 𝜎𝜃 and the shear stress 𝜏𝜃 ).
(b) The resultant stress and its direction.

Suggested Solution:
(a) The stress element is as shown in the Figure 7.

Figure 7.
Hence, forces on the element are as shown in Figure 8.

Alternatively

Figure 8. (a) (b)

Resolving the forces for components pependicular and parallel to the inclined plane of interest as shown
in Figure 9 after resolving the forces in Figure 8(b). Label the components shown in the Figure.

30cos60sin60

60sin60sin60
Figure 9.

For the normal stress, banace the components perpendicular to the inclined plane
𝜎𝜃 = (60 cos 60° ) cos 60° − (40 sin 60° ) sin 60° + (30 cos 60° ) sin 60° + (30 sin 60° ) cos 60°
Convince yourself that the equation is correct and
Show that
𝝈𝜽 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟎𝟖 𝑵/𝒎𝒎𝟐 ≅ 𝟏𝟏 𝑵⁄𝒎𝒎𝟐

For the shear stress banace the components parallel to the inclined plane
𝜏𝜃 = (60 cos 60° ) sin 60° + (40 sin 60° ) cos 60° − (30 cos 60° ) cos 60° + (30 sin 60° ) sin 60°
Convince yourself that the equation is correct and Show that
𝝉𝜽 = 𝟓𝟖. 𝟑 𝑵/𝒎𝒎𝟐
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 (b). For the resultant, 𝜎𝑟 , use pyhtagoras theorem

𝜎𝑟 = √𝜎𝜃2 + 𝜏𝜃2

= √112 + 58.32

= 𝟓𝟗. 𝟑 𝑵/𝒎𝒎𝟐
𝝈𝜽 11
At angle 𝜑 = tan−1 = tan−1
𝜏𝜃 58.3

= 10.68o or an alternative correct answer

Terminolgy:
Read about common terms used in complex stress analysis:
Plane stress
Maximum and minmum stresses
Principal stresses
Principal plane

Exercises for practice:

Class text by Drotsky: Pages 251 -254 Numbers 16.1, 16.3, 16.5, and many others.
Start reading about Mohr’s circle for plane stress