Theories of Failure

The material properties are usually determined by simple

tension or compression tests.

The mechanical members are subjected to biaxial or triaxial

stresses.
To determine whether a component will fail or not, some

failure theories are proposed which are related to the

properties of materials obtained from uniaxial tension or
compression tests.
Initially we will consider failure of a mechanical member

subjected to biaxial stresses

The Theories of Failures which are applicable for

this situation are:
Max principal or normal stress theory
(Rankines theory)
Maximum shear stress theory (Guests or
Trescas theory)
Max. Distortion energy theory (Von Mises
& Henckys theory)
Max. strain energy theory
Max. principal strain theory

Ductile materials usually fail by

yielding and hence the limiting strength is
the yield strength of material as determined
from simple tension test which is assumed
the same in compression also.
For brittle materials limiting strength
of material is ultimate tensile strength in
tension or compression.

Max. Principal or Normal stress theory

(Rankines Theory):
It is assumed that the failure or yield occurs at a
point in a member when the max. principal or
normal stress in the biaxial stress system
reaches the limiting strength of the material in a
simple tension test.
In this case max. principal stress is calculated in
a biaxial stress case and is equated to limiting
strength of the material.

Maximum principal stress

2

x y
x y

2xy
1
2
2

Minimum principal stress

2

x y
x y

2xy
2
2
2

For ductile materials

1 should not exceed

S yt

FOS

For brittle materials

1 should not exceed

S ut

FOS

in tension, FOS=Factor of safety

in tension

This theory is basically applicable for brittle materials

which are relatively stronger in shear and not applicable
to ductile materials which are relatively weak in shear.

+2
Syt

-1
Syc

Syt

+1

Syc
-2

Boundary for maximum normal stress theory under bi axial stresses

2. Maximum Shear Stress theory (Guests or Trescas

theory):
The failure or yielding is assumed to take place at a
point in a member where the max shear stress in a
biaxial stress system reaches a value equal to shear
strength of the material obtained from simple tension
test.
In a biaxial stress case max shear stress developed is
x y 2
given by

max
xy2

max
FOS
max =

S yt

2 FOS
This theory is mostly used for ductile materials.

max

max

2= 3
=0

-2

3 =0

Mohrs circle for uni axial

tension

max
Mohrs circle for bi axial stress
condition

+1

According to the Maximum shear stress theory, max

And also

max

S yt
2

Max. direct stress Min. direct stress

Assuming that 1> 2> 3 and 3 =0

CASE 2 (Second quadrant)
1 is -ve and 2 is +ve ,Then
(1 ) 2 1 21
max 2

2
2
2
S yt
Then max 1
2
-1
CASE 3 (Third quadrant)
1 is -ve and 2 is more
-ve ,Then
( 2 ) 0 2
max 3

2
2
S
Then max yc
2 2
i.e S yc

Syc

1=Syc

CASE 1 (First quadrant )

1 and 2 are +ve

+2
Syt

1=Syt

Syt

Syc
-2

1 3 1 0 1 S yt
max

2
2
2 2
i.e. 1 S yt
+1

CASE 4 (Fourth quadrant)

1 is +ve and 2 is -ve ,Then
( 2 ) 1 2 2
max 1

2
2
2
S yt
Then max
2

3.Max. Distortion energy theory (Von Mises & Henckys

theory):
It is assumed that failure or yielding occurs at a point
the member where the distortion strain energy (also
called shear strain energy) per unit volume in a biaxial
stress system reaches the limiting distortion energy
(distortion energy at yield point) per unit volume as
determined from a simple tension test.
The maximum distortion energy is the difference
between the total strain energy and the strain energy due
to uniform stress.

3.Max. Distortion energy theory (Von Mises & Henckys

theory):

3.Max. Distortion energy theory (Von Mises &

Henckys theory):
The criteria of failure for the distortion energy
theory is expressed as
S yt

1
1 2 2 2 3 2 3 1 2
2

Considering the factor of safety

S yt
FOS

1
1 2 2 2 3 2 3 1 2
2

For bi axial stresses (3=0),

S yt
FOS

1 2 1 2
2

3.Max. Distortion energy theory (Von Mises & Henckys

theory):
A component subjected to pure shear stresses and the
corresponding Mohrs circle diagram is
Y

-2

Element subjected to pure shear stresses

Mohrs circle for pure shear stresses

From the figure, 1 = -2 =

and 3=0

Substituting the values in the equation

S yt

We get

FOS

1 2 1 2
2

S yt 3
Replacing by Ssy, we get

S sy

S yt

0.577 S yt

3
In the biaxial stress case, principal stress 1, 2 are
calculated based on x ,y & xy which in turn are used
to determine whether the left hand side is more than
right hand side, which indicates failure of the
component.

Case 2 (Second quadrant)

1 is -ve and 2 is +ve and equal
toS,
then
2
2
yt

FOS
S yt
FOS
S yt

Case 1 (First quadrant)

2 1 2

+2

Case 3 (Third quadrant)

1 is -ve and 2 is +ve and equal
to , then

S yt

1 2 1 2
FOS
S yt

FOS

Syt

Syc
-2

1 2 1 2
FOS
S yt

FOS

Syt

3 2 3
FOS
S yt
0.577
FOS
Syc

S yt

-1

1 and 2 are +ve and equal

to , then

+1
Case 4 (Fourth quadrant)
1 is +ve and 2 is -ve and equal
toS,
then
2
2
yt

FOS
S yt
FOS
S yt

2 1 2

3 2 3
FOS
S yt
0.577
FOS

Boundary for distortion energy theory under bi axial stresses

MPa

MPa

MPa

4.

Max. Strain energy theory (Heighs Thoery):

Failure is assumed to take place at a point in a member

where strain energy per unit volume in a biaxial stress
system reaches the limiting strain energy that is strain
energy at yield point per unit volume as determined
from a simple tension test.
Strain energy per unit volume in a biaxial system is

2 1 2
1 2
2
U1
1 2

2E
m
The limiting strain energy per unit volume for yielding
as determined from simple tension test is

1 S yt
U2

2 E FOS

Equating the above two equations then we get

1 2
2

2 1 2

S yt

FOS

In a biaxial case 1, 2 are calculated based as x, y & xy

It will be checked whether the Left Hand Side of
Equation is less than Right Hand Side of Equation or
not. This theory is used for ductile materials.

5.Max. Principal Strain theory (Saint Venants Theory):

It is assumed that the failure or yielding occurs at a point
in a member where the maximum principal (normal) strain
in a biaxial stress exceeds limiting value of strain (strain at
yield port) as obtained from simple tension test.
In a biaxial stress case

E max

S yt
1 2

E mE FOS E

One can calculate 1 & 2 given x , y & xy and check

whether the material fails or not, this theory is not used
in general as reliable results could not be detained in
variety of materials.

Example :1

The load on a bolt consists of an axial pull of 10kN

together with a transverse shear force of 5kN. Find
the diameter of bolt required according to
1. Maximum principal stress theory
2. Maximum shear stress theory
3. Maximum principal strain theory
4. Maximum strain energy theory
5. Maximum distortion energy theory
Permissible tensile stress at elastic limit =100MPa and
Poissons ratio =0.3

Solution 1
Cross sectional area of the bolt,
A

Axial stress,

2
d 0.7854d 2
4

P
10
12.73
2
1

kN
/
mm
A 0.7854d 2
d2

And transverse shear stress,

Ps
5
2

6
.
365
kN
/
mm
A 0.7854d 2

According to maximum principal stress theory

Maximum principal stress,

x
x
2

xy
2
2

x y
x y

2xy
1
2
2

12.73
12.73
6.365
1

2
2
2
2
d
2
d
d

15365
2
1
N
/
mm
d2
2

According to maximum principal stress

theory, Syt = 1
15365
100
d 12.4mm
2
d

According to maximum shear stress theory

Maximum shear stress,
2

x y
2xy
max
2

x
2
max
xy
2

12.73 2 6.365

2
2
d
d

9
9000
2
2
2 kN / mm 2 N / mm
d
d

According to maximum shear stress,

S yt

9000 100
max
2
2
d
2
d 13.42mm

According to maximum principal strain theory

The maximum principal stress,
2

x y
x y
2

xy

2
2

15365
x

2
x xy
d2
2
2

And minimum principal stress,

2

x y
x y

2xy
2
2
2

12.73
x
x
12.73
6.365
2
2

xy 2
2
2
d
2d
d
2
2
2635
2
2
N
/
mm
d2

 And according to maximum principal strain theory,

1 2 Syt

E mE
E
2
15365 2635 0.3
1
Syt

100
2
2
m
d
d
d 12.7 mm

 According to maximum strain energy

theory
21 2
2
2
2
1 2
S yt
m
2
2
15365 2635
15365
2635
2
d 2 d 2 2 d 2 d 2 0.3 100
d 12.78mm
According to maximum distortion theory
S yt

2 1 2

15365 2 2635
100

2
2

d
d

d 13.4mm

15365 2635

2
d
d 2