Equation of Equilibrium

Consider an element of unit thickness and cross section area dx*dy subjected to two-
dimensional state of stresses along with the body force X and Y as shown in the figure 1.

sy + sy dy
y
y
tyx + tyx dy
y
D C
Y txy + txy dx
x
dy X sx + sx dx
sx x
txy dx
A B
y t yx
x
sy
x

Figure under
For the elementary block 1 – Two-dimensional Stress
two-dimensional stateSystem s
of stress the condition for the
equilibrium are ∑Fx = 0, ∑Fy = 0 and ∑M = 0.
Summation of all forces in x and y direction after simplification and cancelling the terms we
have
¶sx ¶tyx
+ + X = 0 ……(1)
¶x ¶y
¶tyx ¶sy
+ + Y = 0 ……(2)
¶x ¶y
Equation (1) and (2) are differential equation of equilibrium for a two-dimensional state of
stress in cartesian x - y coordinate system. This can be extended to a general three-
dimensional state of stress. Thus, in cartesian x, y, z coordinate system for a three-
dimensional body subjected to tri axial loading the body will be in three-dimensional state of
stress. Thus for a general three-dimensional state of stress the equation of equilibrium will be

+¶sx ¶tyx+ ¶tzx + X = 0 ……(3)

¶x ¶y ¶z
¶t
+ xy ¶s y+ ¶t zy + Y = 0 ……(4)
¶x ¶y ¶z
Summation of Moments about any point in the elementary block should be equal to zero. i.e.
+¶txz ¶tyz+ ¶sz + Z = 0 ……(5)
¶x
∑ M = 0. Considering the moments ¶y the
about ¶zorigin 'O' with anticlockwise sense moment as
positive and clockwise sense moment as negative we have neglecting the higher order terms
and the product of small quantities and then simplifying, cancelling and rearranging the terms
we get
[- {sx / x + tyx / y + X} y dx dy + {txy / x + sy / y + Y} x dx dy + (txy - tyx)
dx dy] = 0
But we know from equilibrium equation for the forces
sx / x + tyx / y + X = 0 and txy / x + sy / y + Y = 0
Then we have (txy - tyx) dx dy = 0
Since dx dy is the area of the element which can't be equal to zero thus we get (txy - tyx) = 0
hence txy = tyx. Similarly, it can be proved that tyz = tzy and tzx = txz
Thus, the Shearing Stress components are symmetrical

Numerical Example: The State of Stress at a Point is given by

sx = x2y +20; sy = x3z +y2; sz = yz2 + 10; txy = 3x2y; tyz = yz; tzx = xz.
Determine the body force distribution at the point (1, 2, 3) so that the stresses are in
equilibrium.
Given: sx = x2y + 20; sy = x3z + y2; sz = yz2 + 10; txy = 3x2y; tyz = yz; tzx
= xz.
Then we have sx/x = 2xy sy/y = 2y sz/z = 2yz
txy /x = 6xy txy /y = 3x2 tyz /y = z
tyz /z = y tzx /x = z tzx /z = x
Equation of equilibrium are sx/x + tyx/y + tzx/dz + fx = 0 …… (1)
txy/x + sy/y + tzy/z + fy = 0 …… (2)
txz/x + tyz/y+ sz/z + fz = 0 …… (3)
Substituting the expression for partial derivatives into the equilibrium equation we get 
2xy + 3x2 + x + fx = 0, 6xy + 2y + y + fy = 0, z + z + 2yz + fz = 0
Then we have fx = [-(2xy + 3x2 + x)], fy = [-(6xy + 3y)], fz =[-(2z + 2yz)]
are body forces at point P(x, y, z).
For the given problem at the point P(1, 2, 3) thus substituting for x = 1, y = 2 and z = 3
we get fx = [-(2*1*2 + 3*12 + 1)] = -8
fy = [-(6*1*2 + 3*2)] = -18
fz = [-(2*3 + 2*2*3)] = -18