RI E S

T H EO
OF
L U R E
FA I
Introduction
7-2

•  Failure Theory-relates the stress components to the

characteristic value of material failure
Synopsis of Failure Theories
DUCTILE MATERIAL BRITTLE MATERIAL

Characteristic failure Yield Stress Ultimate Stress

Stress

Theories 1. Maximum Shear 1. Maximum Normal

Stress or maximum Stress Theory
shear stress theory
(MSST)
2. Maximum-Distortion- 2. Mohr’s Failure
Energy Theory (MDET) Criterion
or “von mises”
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials Under
Plane Stress 7-3
•  Failure of a machine component
subjected to uniaxial stress is directly
predicted from an equivalent tensile
test.
•  Failure of a machine component
subjected to plane stress cannot be
directly predicted from the uniaxial state
of stress in a tensile test specimen.

•  It is convenient to determine the

principal stresses and to base the
failure criteria on the corresponding
biaxial stress state.

•  Failure criteria are based on the

mechanism of failure. Allows
comparison of the failure conditions for
a uniaxial stress test and biaxial
component loading.
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials Under Plane Stress
7-4
1. Maximum shearing stress criteria:
A material will fail when the maximum
shear stress exceeds the shear stress
at the yield point obtained from a
uniaxial tensile test
σ
τ max < τ Y = Y
2

For σp1 and σp2 with the same sign,

σ p1 σYσ p2
τ max = or <
2 2 2
For σp1 and σp2 with opposite signs,

σ p1 − σ p2 σY
Note: it is also referred as “Tresca’s yield τ max = <
2 2
Criterion”
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials Under Plane Stress
2. Maximum
7-5 distortion energy criteria:
Structural component is safe as long as the
distortion energy per unit volume is less than that
occurring in a tensile test specimen at yield.
DERIVATION:
2 1 1 1
1 1 pl
σ
ur = σ p1ε1 + σ p2ε 2 + σ p3ε3
u r = σ pl ε pl =
2 2 E 2 2 2
If the material behaves in a linear-elastic manner
1 2 2 2
ur = (σ p1 + σ p2 + σ p3 + 2v(σ p1σ p2 + σ p1σ p3 + σ p3σ p2 ))
2E
-stored energy as a result of its volume changed, caused
by application of the average principal strains

σ average = (σ p1 + σ p2 + σ p3 ) / 3
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials Under Plane Stress
2. Maximum
7-6 distortion energy criteria:
Structural component is safe as long as the distortion energy
per unit volume is less than that occurring in a tensile test
specimen at yield. DERIVATION:
-stored energy as a result of its volume changed, caused
by application of the average principal strains

σ average = (σ p1 + σ p2 + σ p3 ) / 3
-the remaining portion of the stress

(σ p1 − σ ave ), (σ p2 − σ ave ), and(σ p3 − σ ave )

-substituting the remaining stresses to the distortion

energy expression, expanding then simplifying:

udist = (1+ v)"#(σ p1 − σ p2 )2 + (σ p2 − σ p3 )2 + (σ p3 − σ p1 )2 $% / 6E

Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials Under Plane Stress
2. Maximum
7-7 distortion energy criteria:
Structural component is safe as long as the distortion energy
per unit volume is less than that occurring in a tensile test
specimen at yield. DERIVATION:
-in the case of plane stress,

udist = (1+ v)"#σ p1

2 2$
% / 3E
− σ p1σ p2 + σ p2

-but for uniaxial tension test, and equating to distortion

equation

udistortion < uYield

1+ v 2 1+ v 2
3E
(σ p1 − σ σ
p1 p2 + σ p2 )
2
<
3E
(σ Yield )
2 2 2
σ p1 − σ p1σ p2 + σ p2 < σ Yield
Yield Criteria for Ductile Materials Under Plane Stress
7-8
-this is an equation of an ellipse,
2 2 2
σ − σ p1σ p2 + σ
p1 p2 <σ Y The two images below show the
limits of the criterion. Image b
compares this criterion with the
accepted values from MSST.

a) b)
Fracture Criteria for Brittle Materials Under Plane Stress
7-9
Brittle materials fail suddenly through rupture or fracture in a tensile test. The
failure condition is characterized by the ultimate strength sU.

1. Maximum Normal Stress Theory/Criteria:

A material will fail when the maximum normal stress at a point
exceeds the ultimate normal stress obtained from a uniaxial tension
test

σ p1 < σ Ultimate
σ p2 < σ Ultimate
Fracture Criteria for Brittle Materials Under Plane Stress
2. Mohr’s Failure Criteria
7-1
0

A material will fail if a stress state is on the envelope that is tangent to

three Mohr’s circles-corresponding to ultimate stress in tension,
compression and pure shear

Mohr’s failure Criteria uses three separate test to predict the capacity of the
material.
The image below shows the stress state of an element under three tests
Fracture Criteria for Brittle Materials Under Plane Stress
2. Mohr’s Failure Criteria
7 - 11

The simplification of resulting plane stress is shown as dotted lines

and is called the modified Mohr’s theory, in the image below.
The limits of the criteria are following:
•  If both principal stresses are tensile, then the max. normal stress has to be less
than the ultimate tensile strength
•  If both principal stresses are negative, then the max. normal stress must be less
than the ultimate compressive strength
•  If the principal stresses are of different signs, then for the modified Mohr’s
theory the failure is governed by:

σ p2 σ p1
− ≤1
σC σT
THEORIES OF FAILURE
Example 1:
7-1
2

The state of plane stress stress shown occurs in a machine component

made of a steel with σyield= 325 MPa. Using maximum-shearing-stress
criterion, determine whether yield occurs when (a) σ0= 200 MPa, (b)
σ0= 240 , (c) σ0= 280 MPa . If yield does not occur, determine the
corresponding factor of safety.
Solve the problem above using the maximum-distortion-energy
criterion
THEORIES OF FAILURE
Example 2:
7-1
3

The 1.5-in-diameter shaft AB is made of a grade steel for

which the yield strength is σyield= 42 ksi. Using the
maximum-shearing-stress criterion, determine the
magnitude of the torque T, for which the yield occurs when
P= 60 kips.
THEORIES OF FAILURE
Example 3:
7-1
4

The state of plane stress shown is expected to occur in a

cast-iron machine base. Knowing that for the grade of cast
iron used σUT= 160 MPa and σUC= 320 MPa and using
Mohr’s criterion, determine whether rupture of the
component will occur.
Additional Problems 1
The state of stress of7 - a15 certain point is described by the
Mohr’s Circle shown below. If the normal stress in the
horizontal plane is σyy = 7 MPa, determine the normal
stress σxx in the vertical plane if the factor of safety
against yielding using the Maximum Distortion Energy
Criterion is 1.75. Use σy = 60 MPa for the yield stress.
Additional Problems 2
7-1
6

Two forces are applied to the pipe assembly shown.

Knowing that the allowable normal and shear stress at
point A located at the top of the outer surface of the pipe
are 30 MPa and 5 MPa, respectively, and the outer
diameter of all pipes is 40 mm, determine the minimum
inner diameter of the pipes.
y

500

300

130  N
A

x
250
z
250

130  N

Dimensions  are  in  millimeters

Seatwork:
\ 7-1
7
The state of stress of a critical point in a ductile material with yield stress σY =
250 MPa is shown. If a plane, which is θ degrees from the horizontal, is under
the state of pure shear as also shown, determine the maximum value of the
shear stress τ’ such that a factor of safety of 2 is attained using:
 
the Maximum Shearing Stress Criterion
the Maximum Distortion Energy Criterion
 
Use Mohr’s Circle in your solution.