The Mohr Stress Diagram

Edvard Munch as a young geologist!

The Mohr Stress Diagram

A means by which two stresses acting on a plane of known orientation can be plotted as the components of normal and shear stresses (derived separately from each of the two stresses).

The Mohr circle is thus an elegant way to determine the shear and normal stresses for a pair of stresses oriented obliquely to the plane in question. The Mohr circle allows you to quickly read this for planes of any orientation.

It also makes it easy to visualize mean stress and differences in stress, or deviatoric stress and relate these to deformation.

Setting up the Problem (we did this previously for one stress)

Add another stress & calculate their normal and shear components The angle theta is the angle between the maximum ! principle stress and the plane it is acting on

Decompose two original stresses into their x and y components!

After several trigonometric and algebraic manipulations, the two equations left are

Stress Equations Two perpendicular stresses oriented at any angle to a plane! Normal Stress n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2! 2! 2!

Shear Stress

s = (1 - 3) sin 2! 2!

The Mohr Stress Diagram

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2! 2! 2!
Theta = angle between ! the maximum stress and the plane it is acting on.!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2! 2!

The Mohr Circle - (mean or average stress)

Mean Stress!

The Mohr Circle radius or deviatoric stress

Deviatoric Stress!

The Mohr Circle diameter or differential stress

Differential Stress!

Laboratory Experiments in Rock Deformation

Deformed marble rock cylinders

Laboratory Experiments in Rock Deformation

Stress a rock sample until it fractures (or flows)

In-class exercise, work in groups of 4, turn in write up of answers. Given these samples, discuss how the magnitude of stresses likely varied relative to one another in these four experiments. Each cylinder was deformed in a different experiment, each with its own axial and radial load (which varied relative to one another).

In-class problem!
1.

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 mega-pascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, E-W striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented NorthSouth, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a block diagram. So max stress is oriented vertically and equal to 600 MPA Min stress is horizontal, oriented east-west and = 200 MPa

2. 3.

In-class problem!

There are two ways to solve these problems.

Use the Mohr Stress Diagram or Use the equations (extra credit if you do both)

Determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented N-S, 45o E Maximum stress is oriented vertically and equal to 600 MPA Minimum stress is horizontal, oriented east-west and = 200 MPa

Use the Mohr Stress Diagram!

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, E-W striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented NorthSouth, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a block diagram.

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2!
Use the Equations!

2!

2!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2! 2!
For the minimum and maximum principle stresses of 600 and 200 megapascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, E-W striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented North-South, 45 degrees East

For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential stress and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and shear stresses on the Mohr Stress Diagram.

Problem 2!
3

Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or increase the shear stress acting on it. Discuss how a change in differential stress might affect whether a rock might be more or less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily varying the stresses and looking at how they plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube. Now discuss whether increasing the mean stress would cause a rock to break more readily. Would this be more or less likely with increasing depth in the crust? Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are both equal to 600 Mpa.

Following set of slides should be copied and handed out to students for exercises. Work in groups of 4, so for a class of 80 students, print out 20 sets.

In-class exercise, work in groups of 4 & turn in a write up of your answers. Problem 1.1 Given these samples, discuss how the magnitude and mean stresses likely varied relative to one another in these four samples. Each cylinder was deformed in a different experiment, each with its own axial and radial load (which varied relative to one another).

In-class problem 1.2

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 megapascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, EW striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented North-South, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a block diagram. So max stress is oriented vertically and equal to 600 MPA Min stress is horizontal, oriented east-west and = 200 MPa

For maximum and minimum stresses of 600 and 200 megapascals (MPa) oriented as a vertical vector and a horizontal, E-W striking vector (respectively), determine the normal and shear stresses on a plane oriented North-South, 45 degrees East. It helps to first draw a block diagram.

n = (1 + 3) - (1 - 3) cos 2!
Use the Equations!

2!

2!

s = (1 - 3) sin 2! 2!

Or use the Mohr Circle!

For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential stress and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and shear stresses on the Mohr Stress Diagram. Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or increase the shear stress acting on it. Discuss how a change in differential stress might make the sample more or less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily varying the stresses and looking at how they plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube. Now discuss whether increasing just the mean stress would cause a rock to break more readily. Would this be more or less likely with increasing depth in the crust? Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are both equal to 600 MPa. What is the differential stress. Would you expect the rock to deform under these conditions?

In-class problem 2.2

1.

For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential stress and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and shear stresses on the Mohr Stress Diagram.

In-class problem 2.3

1.

Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or increase the shear stress acting on it.

In-class problem 2.4

Discuss how a change in differential stress might make the sample more or less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily varying the stresses and looking at how they plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube.

In-class problem 2.5

1.

Now discuss whether increasing the mean stress would cause a rock to break more readily. Would this be more or less likely with increasing depth in the crust?

In-class problem 2.6

1.

Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are both equal to 600 Mpa. What is the differential stress? Would you expect the rock to deform under these conditions?

In-class problem 2
For the stress state in the previous problem, determine the differential stress and mean stress. Start by plotting the solution for normal and shear stresses on the Mohr Stress Diagram. Determine whether decreasing the dip of the fault will decrease or increase the shear stress acting on it. Discuss how a change in differential stress might make the sample more or less likely to break. It may help by arbitrarily varying the stresses and looking at how they plot on the circle, or by imagining stress on a cube. Now discuss whether increasing just the mean stress would cause a rock to break more readily. Would this be more or less likely with increasing depth in the crust? Draw the stress state where the minimum and maximum stresses are both equal to 600 Mpa. What is the differential stress. Would you expect the rock to deform under these conditions?