‘Everuthing vou ever wanted to know about 3D Mohr's Circle anid weren't afraid to ask ‘The following discussion relates to STRESS, but the discussion applies equivalently to STRAIN (where instead of stresses on faces of elements, we refer to strains of the sides of elements). Definition: The principal directions for stress refer to three orthogonal axes (1,2, 3) for which there are no shear stresses on the three faces perpendicular to each axis (1. 2,3) einition: The princi stresses are the three normal stresses on the faces perpendicular to the axes (2, 2,3) labeled 0}, 0, 05 respectively Bake Soe PEO, and oy, 8, 0, af¢non~zer0, Ss 9 am ‘Then, the x, y,and 2 axes are the three principal directions, and the chree principal stresses are 6, 0, o, respectively. ‘More Detailed Definition: Fora given axis to bea principal axis, the two shear sess components onthe face normal to that axis ust be zero. In other words, in the above example, ‘ the.x axis i a principal axis because £,, = 7, =0. ‘© the y axis is principal axis because €,, = 1, =0. 4 the zaxisis a principal axis because 1, =1,,=0 % Zl Example: Suppote we have aise of line ates has Tyg Hq 20, and O Oye Ty ME DON-2EO. Since T,, = t=O, the z axis is a principal direction (from the definition above), and the principal stress for this direction is 0. : surface Yaga & tao Tez =O This ciel is not compatible withthe 3D Mobs circles drwn above 9.0, appears to bea principal stress on this circle (poiat 6), but on the 3D Moht's circles, itis nota principal stress. Furthermore, we know from the star that @, should not be a principal stress (because +440), What's going on?‘The problem is that the x- circle drawn above represents a rotation about the y-axis, and the y-axis is NOT A PRINCIPAL AXIS, so this does not follow the rule for 3D Mobr’s circle. ‘Thus, the points a and b on the circle above are NOT necessarily principal stresses (in this particular case, ais a principal stress, but bis not). While the circle still tells, you how the stress components transform as yau rotate the element about the y a it does not give you the true principal stresses because the y-axis is not a principal axis, In other words, any Mohr’s cirele (the three 3D circles, or justa single circle) only sives you principal stresses ifthe axis of rotation isa principal axis to begin with. ‘This lead to the next problem: in the example above, we could find the peincipal axes 2° and y" because we were icky enough to have 8 a principal axis. What if we hove general state of stress, but do not know the orientation of any ofthe principal axes? While this problem can be solved, itis nota topic for this course. Tere indeed exist three principal axes for any general state of sess (fr those of you proficient with matrix algebra, finding the principal stesses i equivalent to diagonalizing the stress malt...) ‘What do you need to know how to do? © Given three principal stresses (or strains), draw the 3D Mohr’s circles, and find the absolute maximum shear stress (or stain). Describe which axis of rotation is used to get to the max. shear stress (or strain). ‘© Given one principal axis, say z, find the other principal axes x’ and y’ Gusta simple ‘Mohe’s circle for x-») and the corresponding principal stresses (or strains). Then draw the 3D Mohr's circles, and find the absolute maximum shear stress (or strain) etc. EXAMPLES: Suppose 0, = 50 MPa, 0, =-30 MPa, 0,100 MP, ty Draw te 3D Mohr’ icles. What ate ete principal esses? fan 0,0, 6) Wha ithe absolute max, shear 8 ans: Faq =4(0,—,)=65 MPa] Whats the rintaton for this max, hear ess? fans: 245° rotation of they & zanes about hex axis Suppose 0, =0 MPa, 6,=40 MPa, 0,=-60 MPa, t,,=~38 MPa, 5 Draw the 3D Mohr’scrles. What are the principal stresses, and te orientation ofthe principal axes? (ans: ©,=0, =-203 MPa, 0,=0,=603 MPa, ,=0,=-60 MPa, obtained by rotating the x & y axes about the z axis by 30.1° counterclockwise] What isthe absolote rman, shea sts? (ANS: Ty ={(@; ~05) =60.2. MPa] What isthe orientation for this max, shear sess? fans: 245° rotation ofthe ofthe y'& z axes about the x’ axis}