Mohrs Circles
CE 341 Lecture Notes
Geotechnical Engineering I
Sign Convention
normal stress (s )
(+s) (-s)
(+s) (-s)
shear stress (t ) (USC)
(-t)
(+t) (+t) Element must have both pos. and
neg. shear stress for equilibrium
(-t)
Principal Stresses & Principal Planes
Principal stress: normal stress on plane where shear stress is zero
s 1 = maximum (major) principal stress
s 3 = minimum (minor) principal stress s1 s 2 s 3
s 2 = intermediate principal stress (3D)
If s 1 = s 2 = s 3, then isotropic stress (thus no shear stress)
(s 1 - s 3 ) = deviator stress (results in shear stress)
Principal Plane: plane on which principal stress acts
Two
s principal planes are perpendicular s
1 1
t=0
Not necessarily s3
s3 horizontal
And vertical!
Derivation of Mohrs Circle
Consider a 2D element where s 1 s 3
s1 Sub-element:
sa
s s3 ds s3
dy
t
ta
a dx
s1
F h = 0 : s 3dy = s a sin a ds t a cos a ds
F v = 0 : s 1dx = s a cos a ds t a sin a ds
where
dx = ds cos a Substituting... s 3 ds sin a = s a sin a ds t a cos a ds
dy = ds sin a s 1 ds cos a = s a cos a ds t a sin a ds
s 3 ds sin a = s a sin a ds t a cos a ds sa
s 1 ds cos a = s a cos a ds t a sin a ds
ds s3
Divide by ds dy
s 3 sin a = s a sin a t a cos a ta
a dx
s 1 cos a = s a cos a t a sin a
Solve simultaneously s1
1
1 ta = s 1 s 3 sin 2a (Note: if s1 = s3, t a = 0)
2
1 1
2 s a = s 1 s 3 s 1 s 3 cos 2a
2 2
Rewrite (2)
1
3 sa s 1 s 3 = 1 s 1 s 3 cos 2a
2 2
Square (1) and (3) and add together
2 2
1 1
t = s a s 1 s 3 = s 1 s 3
2
a
2 2
2 2
1 1
t s a s 1 s 3 = s 1 s 3
2
a
2 2 y
Is an equation for a circle in the form
y 2 x x0 = r 2
2
r x0 x
where
y =t
x =s t
1
x0 = s 1 s 3
2
1
r = s 1 s 3
2 (s1s3)
s
s3 (s1+s3) s1
t
Mohrs Circle: graphical representation of state of stress on
every plane in a 2D element
(s1s3)
s
s3 (s1+s3) s1
Typically only plot top half (+t ) in geotechnical practice....
Typically only have stresses (+s ) in compressive regime
t
t t
s s
s3 s1
s
t t
s s
Mohrs Circle for effective stress (s = s u)
Circle for effective stress (s )
Circle for total stress (s )
u s or s
Shifts to left by pore pressure (u)
We will see later that this is a less
stable state of stress (soil is closer
to failure conditions)
Finding principal stresses if given stresses on perpendicular planes
sy
tyx txy = -tyx
txy sx > sy
sx
s 1 = s x s y t xy2 s x s y
1 1
t 2 2
2 2
r = t xy2 s x s y
1
s 3 = s x s y t xy2 s x s y
1 1
2 2 2
tmax
sx, txy) 2
= t s x s y = s 1 s 3
1 1
t max 2
xy
2 2
sy
s3 sx s1 s
sy, tyx) 1/2sx+sy)
Example: Find principal stresses and max shear stress (Analytical Solution)
sy = 3000 psf
txy = -300 psf
sx = 2100 psf
2 2
s 1 = s x s y t xy2 s x s y = 2100 3000 300 2 2100 3000
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
s 1 = 3091 psf
2 2
s 3 = s x s y t xy2 s x s y = 2100 3000 300 2 2100 3000
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
s 3 = 2009 psf
1 1
t max = s 1 s 3 = 3091 2009 = 541 psf
2 2
Graphical Solution:
sy = 3000 psf
draw to scale with x-scale = y-scale
plot known points and construct circle txy = -300 psf
pick-off principal stresses and max shear
sx = 2100 psf
Finding stresses on any plane Graphical solution (Reference Plane Method)
1) Establish angle a from a reference plane (e.g,.
sy
horizontal).
tyx 2) Locate reference plane in Mohrs circle
sa txy (center of circle to stress on ref plane)
sx 3) Measure 2a from ref plane in same direction
ta
(CW or CCW)
a
4) This intersects circle at state of stress on
angled plane
t
Analytical solution:
1 Reference
ta = s 1 s 3 sin 2a Plane
2 sx, txy)
1 1
s a = s 1 s 3 s 1 s 3 cos 2a
2 2
sy
s3 sx s1 s
2a
sa, ta)
*See also Pole Point or Origin sy, tyx)
of Planes Methods
Example
Graphical solution
s1 = 2.5 kPa (C)
sa s3 = 0.5 kPa (C)
ta sa, ta) = (1.5, 1 kPa)
a = 45
2a = 90 CCW
Analytical solution:
1
ta = s 1 s 3 sin 2a Reference Plane
2
1
t a = 2.5 0.5 sin 90 = 1 kPa
2
1 1
s a = s 1 s 3 s 1 s 3 cos 2a
2 2
1 1
s a = 2.5 0.5 2.5 0.5 cos 90 = 1.5 kPa
2 2
Find orientation of principal planes:
sy = 3000 psf
1) Let horizontal be reference plane
2) Find reference plane on circle tyx = -300 psf
3) Measure angle to principal plane (2a = 33.7 CCW) txy = 300 psf
4) So major principal plane is 17 deg. CCW from
horizontal
sx = 2100 psf
s3 = 2009 psf
17 deg.
s1 = 3091 psf
Example: Find stresses on plane 30 as shown
40 psi
30
20 psi
1) Let major principal plane be
reference plane
2) Find reference plane on circle
3) Measure angle (2a = 60 CCW)
40 psi
35
8.7
30
20 psi
Example: Find magnitude and orientation of principal stresses
20 psi
40 psi
10 psi
-10 psi
30
1) Plot known points and draw circle.
2) Find s 1 = 44 psi, s 3 = 16 psi
3) Let plane 30 from horizontal be
reference plane, (s,t ) = (20,10)
4) Find reference plane on circle
5) Measure angle to minor principal
plane (2a = 45 CCW)
6) So minor principal plane is 22.5
CCW from reference plane, or 44 psi
52.5 CCW from horizontal.
52.5 16 psi
