Need of these theories

The strength of machine member depends on material used. And these properties are usually
calculated from simple tension or compression tests. There for predicting the failure stresses for
member subjected to bi-axial or tri- axial stress is more complicated.
There are a number of machine components, which are subjected to several types of loads
simultaneously. There is no universal theory of failure for the general case of material and stress
state. Instead over years, several hypothesis have been formulated and tested. Being accepted, these
practices are characterized as theories of failure.
Structural behavior of metal is typically classified as ductile (elastic failure and yielding) and
brittle(fracture). Ductile materials have an identifiable yield strength (Syc = Syt = Sy).But, the brittle
materials do not exhibit an identifiable yield strength, and are typically classified by ultimate tensile
and compressive strengths, Sut and Suc.
For ductile materials (Yield criteria)
1. Maximum Shear Stress (MSS)
2. Distortion Energy (DE)
3. Ductile Coulomb-Mohr (DCM)
For brittle materials (Fracture criteria)
1. Maximum Normal stress (MNS)
2. Brittle Coulomb-Mohr (BCM)
3. Modified Mohr (MM)
The principal theories of failure for machine member subjected to bi-axial stress are as follows.
1] Maximum Principal (or normal) Stress theory (Also known as Rankine Theory)
2] Maximum Shear Stress theory (also known as Guests or Trescas theory )
3] Maximum principal (or normal) Strain theory (Also known as Saint Venant Theory)
4] Maximum Strain energy theory (also known as Haighs theory)
5] Maximum distortion energy theory (also known as Hencky & Von Mises theory)
For brittle materials, the limiting strength is the ultimate stress tension or compression
For ductile materials, the limiting stress is the stress at yield point.
1] Maximum Principal or normal Stress theory ( Rankine Theory) -->
According to this theory, the members fails when maximum principal or normal stress in system
reaches to limiting value.
Limiting stresses - For ductile material is yield stress
For brittle material (do not have well definite yield point) is ultimate stress.

According to above theory, taking factor of safety (F.S.) in account , the principal or normal stress
(t1 ) in a bi-axial stress system is given by
t1= yt/F.S.

For ductile materials

t1= ut/ F.S.

For brittle materials Where, yt =Yield stress in tensile test

ut = Ultimate stress

N.B.OR

This theory is generally used for brittle materials.

Maximum Principal or normal Stress theory ( Rankine Theory)

'The MSS theory states that the failure of the mechanical component subjected to bi-axial or triaxial stresses occurs when the maximum principal stress reaches the yield or ultimate strength of
the material.'
i.e., for a tri-axial loading system if 1>2>3 then, 1 > Syt for ductile and 1> Sut for brittle.
Where Syt and Sut is the yield and ultimate strength of the material respectively.
To avoid failure,

1 Syt OR

1 Sut

Disadvantages:
- can be applied to brittle materials only because, ductile materials fails by shear stress.
- disregards the effect of 2 and 3.
2] Maximum Shear Stress theory (Guests or Trescas theory )
According to this theory, the failure is occurs at a point in member when maximum shear stress
reaches to the value equal to shear stress at yield point in simple tension test.
Mathematically, max = yt / F.S.
where, max = Maximum shear stress in system , F.S.= factor of safety
yt = Shear stress at yield point determined from simple tension test.
3] Maximum principal (or normal) Strain theory (Also known as Saint Venant's Theory)
According to this theory the failure/ yielding occurs at a point when maximum principal strain
reaches to limiting value of strain.

where

[SUB]t1[/SUB]& [SUB]t2[/SUB] = Maximum & minimum principal stresses.

= strain at yield point, 1/m = Passions ratio ,
E= Youngs Modulus,
F.S.= Factor of safety