MAXIMUM SHEAR STRESS THEORY OF FAILURE

A THEORY OF FAILURE APPLICABLE TO DUCTILE MATERIALS

Statement of the theory
When Yielin! occurs in any material, the ma"im#m $hear $tre$$ at the point of failure
equals or exceeds the ma"im#m $hear $tre$$ when yielin! occurs in the ten$ion te$t
$%e&imen.
The theory applies to ductile materials only, because it is based on yielin!.
The three'imen$ional (tria"ial) $tre$$ $it#ation*
In the three-dimensional stress situation, the state of stress at a particular location is fully
defined by three principal stresses
1
,
2
, 3

.
Ma"im#m $hear $tre$$ at a lo&ation of the element
The extreme alues of shear stresses
23 13 12
, ,
, in each of the three principal planes are
then !ien by the expressions"
2
2 1
12

= ,
2
3 1
13

= ,
2
3 2
23

=
#xpressin! the principal stresses in the order of ma!nitude and si!n
3 2 1

Then the maximum shear stress is !ien by
2
3 1
13

=
THE CASE OF SIMPLE TE+SIO+ TEST ,HE+ YIELDI+- OCCURS
$or the simple tension test specimen, the three principal stresses when yieldin! occurs are"
1
% y
S
,
2
%&,
3

%&
The maximum shear stress then becomes
2 2
&
2
3 1
max 13
y y
S S
=

= =


THE CASE OF THREE DIME+SIO+AL STRESS ,HE+ YIELDI+- OCCURS
The maximum shear stress theory of failure states"
When Yielin! occurs in any material, the ma"im#m $hear $tre$$ at the point of failure
equals or exceeds the ma"im#m $hear $tre$$ when yielin! occurs in the ten$ion te$t
$%e&imen.
2 2
3 1
max
y
S
=

University of Nairobi Engineering Design II

The aboe equation implies that the shear yield stren!th of the material
2
y
sy
S
S =
'ut from analysis of plane stress situation, the maximum shear stress in plane stress is also
!ien in terms of plane stress elements
2
2
max
2
xy
y x

=
DESI-+ E.UATIO+ BASED O+ THE MAXIMUM SHEAR STRESS THEORY
This is deried by ad(ustin! the shear yield stren!th of the material with an appropriate factor
of safety
. .s f
. The desi!n equation then becomes"
. . ) 2 . . 2
3 1
max
s f
S
s f
S
y sy
= =

=

OR
. . ) 2 . . 2
2
2
max
s f
S
s f
S
y sy
xy
y x
= = +

=

for plane stress situation
APPLICATIO+ OF THE DESI-+ E.UATIO+
The principal stresses
1
/
2
/ 3

are first determined by stress analysis. *uch analysis

describes the principal stresses as a function of the loa carried, and the !eometry and
imen$ion$ of the machine or structural element.
The maximum shear stress in the desi!n equation is then expressed in terms of the
imen$ion$ of the machine or structural element, while the ri!ht hand side is a function of
the ten$ile yiel $tren!th of the material. The tensile yield stren!th of the material becomes
useful because it more easily determined from laboratory experiments.
The fa&tor of $afety is simply a number chosen by the desi!ner. The factor of safety to!ether
with the stren!th of the material, !ies the wor+in!
1
,desi!n, allowable- stress expected in the
machine part. The solution to the desi!n equation then !ies the minim#m imen$ion$
required to aoid fail#re of the element by yielin!.
1
Wor+in! *tress, pa!e .2/,0andboo+, 1etals #n!ineerin! 23esi!n, 4merican *ociety of 1echanical
#n!ineers ,4*1#-
Nyangasi 5a!e 2 of 2 01 2an#ary 3114