Principle Stresses and Maximum In-Plane Shear Stress

To determine the maximum and minimum normal stress we

must differentiate x with respect to and equate to zero.

x = (x + y ) + (x-y) cos 2 + xysin 2

2

dx = - (x y) (2sin 2) + 2 xy cos 2 = 0
d

Solving this equation will give the orientation of the

planes of maximum and minimum normal stress (p)

tan 2p =

xy
(x-y)/2

N.B. The solution has two roots p1 and p2, the values of 2p1 and
2p2 are 180o apart, which means that p1 and p2 will be 90o apart.

Principle normal stresses can be obtained by substituting

the values of p1 and p2 into equation of x.

Sin 2p1 = xy / [(x-y)/2]2 + xy2

Cos 2p1 = [ (x-y)/2 ] / [(x-y)/2]2 + xy2

Getting values of sin 2p2 and cos 2p2 and

substituting into x we will get:

1,2 = ( x + y ) /2 [(x-y)/2]2 + xy2

Depending on the sign, this equation gives either the maximum

or minimum principle normal stresses (1> 2).
N.B. If the the values of p1 and p2 are substituted into the
shear stress equation (xy ) it will give xy = 0.

Y
x
X

Maximum In Plane Shear Stress

To determine the maximum and minimum shear stress we
must differentiate xy with respect to and equate to zero.
We will get the values of s which determines the orientation
of an element subjected to maximum shear stress:

dxy = -

x y sin 2 + xy cos 2
2

dxy = - (x y ) 2 cos 2 - 2 xy sin 2 = 0

2
tan 2 s = - [(x y )/2 ] / xy

tan 2 s = - [(x y )/2 ] / xy

N.B. Each root of 2s is 90o from 2p , which means that s
and p are 45o apart.
The planes of maximum shear stress can be determined by orienting
an element 45o from the position of an element that defines the
planes of principle stress.

By substituting the values of s1 and s2 into the

txy equation will give:

max = [(x-y)/2]2 + xy2

There is also a normal stress on the planes of maximum inplane shear stress:

avg = ( x + y ) / 2