PRINCIPAL STRESSES AND MOHR CIRCLE B.M (Adapted from Lambe and Whitman, Soil Mechanics, 1979) As with any other material, the normal stress at a point within a soil mass is generally a function of the orientation of the plane chosen to define the stress. It is meaningless to talk of the normal stress or she shear stress at a point. Thus subscripts will be attached to the symbols o and r to qualify just how this stress is defined The general state of stress is three dimensional. At any stressed point there exist three orthogonal (mutually perpendicular) planes on which there are zero shear stresses. These planes are called the principal planes. The normal stresses that act on these three planes are called the principal stresses. The largest of these stresses is called the major principal stress o,, the smallest is called the minor principal stress 0, and the third is called the intermediate principal stress 0, In most of the analysis, we shall be concerned only with the stresses acting in two dimensions rather than those in three dimensions. More specifically, we shall be interested in the state of stress in the plane that contains the major and minor principal stresses, o, and 03. Stresses will be considered positive when compressive. The remainder of the sign conventions are given in Fig.1. The quantity 9, - 95 is called the deviator stress or stress difference. Given the magnitude and direction of 4, and 0, it is possible to compute normal and shear stresses in any other direction using the following equations developed from statics (See any mechanics text book). a 4,c0s*8 + o,sin’@ = 1) = (0, ~ @,)sinBcose = 2! @ These equations, which provide a complete (in two dimensions) description for the state of stress, describe a circle. Any point on the circle, such as A, represents the stress on a plane whose normal is oriented at angle @ to the direction of the major principal stress. This graphical Tepresentation of the state of stress is known as the Mohr circle and is of the greatest importance in geotechnical engineering. Given a, and o, and their directions, it is possible to find the stresses in any other direction by graphical construction using the Mohr circle. Or, given the g and r, that act on any rwo planes, the magnitude and direction of the principal stresses can be found. ‘The idea of the pole or the origin of planes is especially useful in such constructions. ‘The pole or the origin of plane is a point on the Mohr circle denoted by O,, with the following property: a line through id A of the Mohr circle will to the plane on which the stresses by point A act. Examples 1 to 3 illustrate the use of Mohr circle and the pole. The students should study these examples carefully.Direction of 3 Direction of 1 (a) —— A (coordinates a. 74) Fig: 4. Representation of stress by the Mohr circle. (a) Equations for state of stress at a point. (6) Mohr diagram for state of stress at a point. measured counter clockwise from the direction of 9). 6, 0 = 0, cos? + 03 sin*@ ae 1 83 sin 2 (2) — 05) sin @ cos @ => Example 1 Given. Figure EAL inn? og a a — 40 kN)? 40 kN 3 t 20 kN? Fig bt Find. Stresses on plane B-B. Solution. Use Fig. E 4.2 w -10 Fp Ez 1. Locate points with co-ordinates (40, 0) and (20, 0), 2. Draw circle, using these points to define diameter. 3 Draw line '4’ through point (20,0) and parallel to plane on which stress (20,0) acts. $ Iersection of 4’ with Mohr circle at point (40, 0) is the origin of planes 5. Draw line B’B" through Op parallel to BB. 6 . Read coordinates of point X where 8° intersects Mohr circle Answer. See Fig. E1.3 ae =8.7 Nim? \ ant < 20 1Nin' ay, fooonnt ova Fig E1.3, Alternate Solution, Steps \ and 2 same as above 3. Draw line C/C’ through (40,0) parallel to plane on which stress (40,0) acts. C’C" is vertical, 4. CC" imersects Mohr circle only at (40,0), s0 this point is Op. Steps $ and 6 same as above. Solution Using Eqs. 4. and 2 % 40 KN/m? 9, =20kNim? 0 = 120° F605 240" = 30 — 10.08 60° = 25 N/m? =x 4 » sin 240° = —10 sin 60° = 8.66 kN/m? (Questions for student. Why is 6 = | 2 Would result be diferent if © = 300°2)> Example 2 Given, Figure E 2.4 0 xNm? Fig E 2.2 Find, Stresses on horizontal plane DD. ‘Solution. 1 Locate points (40,0) and (20,0) on Mohr diagram (Fig. 2.2), et EEA 7 SC LITT Fig. £ 2-2 2. Draw Mohr circle. 3. Draw line 4’A” through (20,0) parallel to plane upon which stress (20, 0) acts. 44. Intersection of 4'4’ with Mohr circle gives Op. 5. Draw line D'' parallel to plane DD. 6. Intersection X gives desired stresses Answer. See Fig. E 2-3 fo = 35 KN/m? cr eeFind, Magnitude and direction of the principal stresses. Solution. Use Fig. E 3.2 B 19} | 5 9 ‘al -10 Lt oo 0 Fig. E 3.2 1. Locate points (40, —10) and (2, 10). 2. Erect diameter and draw Mohr circ. 3, Draw 3°" through (40,~10) parallel to BB. 4. Intersection of 278" with circle gives Op. 5. Read a, and 0, from graph. 6. Line through Op and a, gives plane on which o, acts, ete. (see Fig. E 3.3). =e ayn? sar > > 35189 Nin Fig. 3.3 Solution by Equations. 1. First make use of fact that sum of normal stresses is a constant: ate Tay +20 2 a z = 30kN/m?2. Use relation 254). [eG peu ith iter pair of gen srses (252) = RO = OF FTF = 25 = 1as4 erm? 2 a= (2£2)+(252) - tee +e) (a - 99 . a= (222) = (255) tse 4. Use stress putin which os largest; ie. (40, ~10) sin 20 = a= 45 O= 2p 5. Angle from horizontal to major principal ses ection = 30" = 0 = 524%. Eavations (Summary) Eavanions ( Sommany) eee Gseo ° z T= S128 Sinze 22-2 z Eliminahng z 6i28)\ + (Co) _ 7 Ee Aso, From — Mechames oF materials 618 = 16, (tn varsént ) " 626. Eb z z