Mechanics of Solids-1
CE-216
Lecture 5- Plane Stress Transformation
Instructor: Engr. Usama Ali
Plane-Stress Transformation
• the general state of stress at a point is characterized by six
independent normal and shear stress components
• Engineers frequently make approximations or simplifications of the
loadings on a body in order that the stress produced in a structural
member or mechanical element can be analyzed in a single plane.
When this is the case, the material is said to be subjected to
plane stress.
Plane-Stress Transformation
• The general state of plane stress at a point is therefore
represented by a combination of two normal-stress
components 𝜎𝑥 & 𝜎𝑦 , and one shear stress component 𝜏𝑥𝑦 ,
which act on four faces of the element.
• If this state of stress is defined on an element having a different
orientation , then it will be subjected to three different
stress components defined as 𝜎𝑥′ , 𝜎𝑦′ & 𝜏𝑥𝑦′
• In other words, the state of plane stress at the point is
uniquely represented by two normal stress components and
one shear stress component acting on an element that has a
specific orientation at the point
General Equation for Plane-Stress Transformation
• Sign Convention: If +x and +x’ axes are used to define the outward normal
from a side of the element. Then 𝜎𝑥 & 𝜎𝑥′ are positive when they act in the
positive x and directions, and 𝜎𝑦 & 𝜎𝑦′ are positive when they act in the
positive y and directions.
• The orientation of the plane on which the normal and shear stress
components are to be determined will be defined by the angle , which is
measured from the axis +x to the +x’ axis,
• Assuming the sectioned area is ∆A then the horizontal and vertical faces
of the segment have an area of ∆Asinθ and ∆Acosθ respectively.
General Equation for Plane-Stress Transformation
General Equation for Plane-Stress Transformation
Principal Stress and Maximum In-plane Shear Stress
• In engineering practice it is often important to determine the
orientation of the element that causes the normal stress to be a maximum and a
minimum and the orientation that causes the shear stress to be a maximum.
• In-Plane Principal Stresses:
The values of 𝜃𝑝1 and 𝜃𝑝2 must be substituted into the general stress
transformation equations to obtain the maximum normal stress values .
Principal Stress and Maximum In-plane Shear Stress
Depending upon the sign chosen, this result gives the maximum or minimum in-plane normal stress acting
at a point, where 𝜎1 ≥ 𝜎2 This particular set of values are called the in-plane principal stresses, and the
corresponding planes on which they act are called the principal planes of stress. Furthermore, if the
trigonometric relations for 𝜃𝑝1 or 𝜃𝑝2 are substituted into the general equation for shear stress, it can be
′ =0. In other words, no shear stress acts on the principal planes.
seen that 𝜏𝑥𝑦
Principal Stress and Maximum In-plane Shear Stress
• Maximum In-Plane Shear Stresses:
The orientation of an element that is subjected to maximum shear stress on its sides
can be determined by taking the derivative of the general shear stress equation with
respect to θ and setting the result equal to zero. This gives
The two roots of this equation, 𝜃𝑠1 and 𝜃𝑝2 can be determined from the
shaded triangles of the figure on the right. tan2𝜃2 is the negative reciprocal of
tan2𝜃𝑝 and so each root 2𝜃𝑠 is 90° from 2𝜃𝑝 , and the roots 𝜃𝑠 or 𝜃𝑝 and are 45° apart. Therefore,
an element subjected to maximum shear stress will be 45° from the position of an element
that is subjected to the principal stress.
there is also an average normal stress on the planes of maximum in-plane shear stress
