Module-1: Lecture-3(Principal stress and principal

planes)

ME 202: Advanced Mechanics of Solids

February 9, 2017

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Principal stresses and planes
Cauchys formula, for the traction on an arbitrary plane is
~ = [][n]
T
For every point on the solid, there exists planes on which the traction is
along its normal n.
ie, shear stress is equal to zero.
n
~n =T n = 0
n
T = n

where is the magnitude of normal stress on this plane

similar to AX =X
n z }| {
T = [] [n] = n
This plane is called the principal plane.
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Principal stresses

xx xy xz nx nx
xy yy yz
ny = ny
xz yz zz nz nz

xxxy xz nx 0 0 nx
xyyy yz
ny = 0 0 ny
xzyz zz nz 0 0 nz

xx xy xz nx 0
xy yy yz ny = 0
xz yz zz nz 0
The solution of the above equations is nx = ny = nz = 0, if
1
xx xy xz
xy yy yz exists.
xz yz zz
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Characteristic polynomial
This solution is not acceptable, since nx2 + ny2 + nz2 = 1.
For an acceptable solution, the inverse of the above matrix should not
exist.
its determinant should be equal to zero.
 
 xx xy xz 
 
 xy
 yy yz =0

 xz yz zz 

Expanding , we get a 3rd polynomial equation in .

   
3 2
 yy yz   xx xz 
(xx + yy + zz ) +   +
yz zz   xz zz 
 
   xx xy xz 
 xx xy   
+    xy yy yz  = 0
xy yy  
 xz yz zz 


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Stress invariants

The characteristic equation for principal stress is

3 I1 2 + I2 I3 = 0

where

I1 = xx + yy + zz
     
 yy yz   xx xz   xx xy 
I2 = 
 + +
yz zz   xz zz   xy yy 
 
 xx xy xz 
 
I3 =  xy yy yz 

 xz yz zz 

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Relationship between stress invariants and the principal
stress
A cubic polynomial in in terms of its solution set 1 , 2 and 3 can be
written as

3 (1 + 2 + 3 ) 2 + (1 2 + 2 3 + 3 1 ) 1 2 3 = 0
1 + 2 + 3 = I1
1 2 + 2 3 + 3 1 = I2
1 2 3 = I3

1 Sum of principal stresses is equal to the first invariant of the stress

tensor, I1 .
2 Sum of products of principal stresses taken two at a time is equal to
the second invariant of the stress tensor, I2 .
3 Product of the principal stresses is equal to the third invariant of the
stress tensor, I3 .
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Notes on principal planes

1 Principal planes are planes on which the resultant stress is normal.

2 The shear stress on a principal plane is zero.
3 Principal planes are planes on which the normal stress has an extreme
value.
4 One principal plane is subjected to maximum value of principal stress.
This plane is called major principal plane.
5 One principal plane is subjected to minimum value of principal stress.
This plane is called minor principal plane.
6 There is a plane, which is a subjected to an intermediate stress.
7 There are three principal planes. These planes are mutually
perpendicular to each other.
8 The principal planes can be form a set of three mutually
perpendicular planes for writing the stress tensor.

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Problem-1: Principal stress and planes

The
state of stress at a point is given by the Cartesian stress tensor
3 1 1
1 5 1 kPa. Find (a) the three stress invariants (b)
1 1 3
characteristic equation (c) principal stresses (d) unit normals of the
principal planes.

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Problem-2: Problem with zero principal stress

The state of stress at a point is characterized by the following matrix in

which x is unknown. (a) Find the value of x, such that at least one plane
passing through the point is subjected to zero resultant stress and
(b)Determine direction cosines of the normal to this plane.

x 2 1
2 0 2
1 2 0

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