Question 7.5: An element in plane stress at the surface of a large machine...
An element in plane stress at the surface of a large machine is subjected to stresses \sigma_{x} = 15,000 psi, \sigma_{y} = 5,000 psi, and \tau_{xy} = 4,000 psi, as shown in Fig.7-19a.
Using Mohr’s circle, determine the following quantities: (a) the stresses acting on an element inclined at an angle θ = 40° , (b) the principal stresses, and (c) the maximum shear stresses. (Consider only the in-plane stresses, and show all results on sketches of properly oriented elements.)

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Construction of Mohr’s circle. The first step in the solution is to set up the axes for Mohr’s circle, with \sigma_{x_{1}} positive to the right and \tau_{x_{1}y_{1}} positive downward (Fig. 7-19b). The center C of the circle is located on the \sigma_{x_{1}} axis at the point where \sigma_{x_{1}} equals the average normal stress (Eq. 7-31a):
\sigma_{aver}=\frac{\sigma_{x}+\sigma_{y}}{2}=\frac{15,000 psi+5,000 psi}{2}=10,000 psiPoint A, representing the stresses on the x face of the element (θ = 0), has coordinates
\sigma_{x_{1}}=15,000 psi \tau_{x_{1}y_{1}}=4,000 psiSimilarly, the coordinates of point B, representing the stresses on the y face (θ = 90°) are
\sigma_{x_{1}}=5,000 psi \tau_{x_{1}y_{1}}=-4,000 psiThe circle is now drawn through points A and B with center at C. The radius of the circle, from Eq. (7-31b), is
R=\sqrt{\left(\frac{\sigma_{x}-\sigma_{y}}{2}\right)^{2}+\tau^{2}_{xy}}=\sqrt{\left(\frac{15,000 psi-5,000 psi}{2}\right)^{2}+\left(4,000 psi\right)^{2}}=6,403 psi
(a) Stresses on an element inclined at θ = 40° . The stresses acting on a plane oriented at an angle θ = 40° are given by the coordinates of point D, which is at an angle 2θ = 80° from point A (Fig. 7-19b). To evaluate these coordinates, we need to know the angle between line CD and the \sigma_{x_{1}} axis (that is, angle DCP_{1}), which in turn requires that we know the angle between line CA and the \sigma_{x_{1}} axis (angle ACP_{1}). These angles are found from the geometry of the circle, as follows:
\tan \overline{ACP_{1}}=\frac{4,000 psi}{5,000 psi}=0.8 \overline{ACP_{1}}=38.66°\overline{DCP_{1}}=80^{\circ}-\overline{ACP_{1}}=80^{\circ}-38.66^{\circ}=41.34^{\circ}
Knowing these angles, we can determine the coordinates of point D directly from the figure:
(Point D) \sigma_{x_{1}} = 10,000 psi + (6,403 psi)(cos 41.34°) = 14,810 psi
\tau_{x_{1}y_{1}} = -(6,403 psi)(sin 41.34°) = -4,230 psi
In an analogous manner, we can find the stresses represented by point D′, which corresponds to a plane inclined at an angle θ = 130° (or 2θ = 260°):
(Point D′) \sigma_{x_{1}} = 10,000 psi – (6,403 psi)(cos 41.34°) = 5,190 psi
\tau_{x_{1}y_{1}} = (6,403 psi)(sin 41.34°) = 4,230 psi
These stresses are shown in Fig. 7-20a on a sketch of an element oriented at an angle θ = 40° (all stresses are shown in their true directions). Also, note that the sum of the normal stresses is equal to \sigma_{x} + \sigma_{y}, or 20,000 psi.
(b) Principal stresses. The principal stresses are represented by points P_{1} and P_{2} on Mohr’s circle (Fig. 7-19b). The algebraically larger principal stress (point P_{1}) is
\sigma_{1} = 10,000 psi + 6,400 psi = 16,400 psi
as seen by inspection of the circle. The angle 2\theta_{p_{1}} to point P_{1} from point A is the angle ACP_{1} on the circle, that is,
\overline{ACP_{1}}=2\theta_{p_{1}} = 38.66° \theta_{p_{1}} = 19.3°
Thus, the plane of the algebraically larger principal stress is oriented at an angle \theta_{p_{1}} = 19.3° , as shown in Fig. 7-20b.
The algebraically smaller principal stress (represented by point P_{2}) is obtained from the circle in a similar manner:
\sigma_{2} = 10,000 psi – 6,400 psi = 3,600 psi
The angle 2\theta_{p_{2}} to point P_{2} on the circle is 38.66° + 180° = 218.66° ; thus, the second principal plane is defined by the angle \theta_{p_{2}} = 109.3° . The principal stresses and principal planes are shown in Fig. 7-20b, and again we note that the sum of the normal stresses is equal to 20,000 psi.
(c) Maximum shear stresses. The maximum shear stresses are represented by points S_{1} and S_{2} on Mohr’s circle; therefore, the maximum in-plane shear stress (equal to the radius of the circle) is
The angle ACS_{1} from point A to point S_{1} is 90° – 38.66° = 51.34° , and therefore the angle 2\theta_{s_{1}} for point S_{1} is
2\theta_{s_{1}} = -51.34°
This angle is negative because it is measured clockwise on the circle. The corresponding angle \theta_{s_{1}} to the plane of the maximum positive shear stress is one-half that value, or \theta_{s_{1}} = -25.7° , as shown in Figs. 7-19b and 7-20c. The maximum negative shear stress (point S_{2} on the circle) has the same numerical value as the maximum positive stress (6,400 psi).
The normal stresses acting on the planes of maximum shear stress are equal to \sigma_{aver}, which is the abscissa of the center C of the circle (10,000 psi). These stresses are also shown in Fig. 7-20c. Note that the planes of maximum shear stress are oriented at 45° to the principal planes.

