MECH3361/9361 Semester 2, 2016

STRESS FUNCTION METHOD

5.1. Introduction
For this section, we will focus on using the stress method (i.e. we will solve the mechanics
equations with stress as the primary variable) to solve some simple plane stress problems.
Under the plane stress assumption, the problem can be reduced to two dimensions, so our
equations from the chapters are as follows:

Equilibrium:

𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑦
+ + 𝑏𝑥 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑦
+ + 𝑏𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Strain-displacement:

𝜕𝑢
𝜀𝑥𝑥 =
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑣
𝜀𝑦𝑦 =
𝜕𝑦
1 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑢
𝜀𝑥𝑦 = ( + )
2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Hooke’s law:

𝐸 𝐸
𝜎𝑥𝑥 = [(1 − 𝜈)𝜀𝑥𝑥 + 𝜈(𝜀𝑦𝑦 + 𝜀𝑧𝑧 )] 𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 𝜀
(1 + 𝜈)(1 − 2𝜈) (1 + 𝜈) 𝑥𝑦

𝐸 𝐸
𝜎𝑦𝑦 = [(1 − 𝜈)𝜀𝑦𝑦 + 𝜈 (𝜀𝑧𝑧 + 𝜀𝑥𝑥 )] 𝜎𝑦𝑧 = 𝜀
(1 + 𝜈)(1 − 2𝜈) (1 + 𝜈) 𝑦𝑧

𝐸 𝐸
𝜎𝑧𝑧 = [(1 − 𝜈)𝜀𝑧𝑧 + 𝜈(𝜀𝑥𝑥 + 𝜀𝑦𝑦 )] 𝜎𝑧𝑥 = 𝜀
(1 + 𝜈)(1 − 2𝜈) (1 + 𝜈) 𝑧𝑥

Strain compatibility:

𝜕 2 𝜀𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜀𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜀𝑥𝑦

+ = 2
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

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Stress BCs:

𝑙𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝑚𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 𝑆𝑥

𝑙𝜎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑚𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 𝑆𝑦

Displacement BCs:

𝑢 = 𝑢∗

𝑣 = 𝑣∗

5.2. Airy stress function

The Airy stress function (𝜙) is a special class of scalar stress function. It only applies for 2D
equilibrium problems where body forces are negligible.

5.2.1. Cartesian solution

If we differentiate the 𝑥 and 𝑦 equilibrium equations with respect to 𝑥 and 𝑦 respectively, we
can obtain:

𝜕 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑦

[ + ]= + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

𝜕 𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦

[ + ]= + =0
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 2

Summing these two, we find that:

𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑦

+ = −2
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

which is the compatibility in terms of stress.

Consider now the strain compatibility equation. For a plane stress problem, 𝜎𝑧𝑧 = 0, so in
conjunction with Hooke’s law we find:

𝜕 2 𝜀𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜀𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜀𝑥𝑦

+ =2
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

𝜕2 1 𝜕2 1 𝜕2 1 + 𝜈
[ (𝜎 − 𝜈𝜎 )] + [ (𝜎 − 𝜈𝜎 )] = 2 [ 𝜎𝑥𝑦 ]
𝜕𝑦 2 𝐸 𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦
𝜕𝑥 2 𝐸 𝑦𝑦 𝑥𝑥
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝐸

𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑦

∴ − 𝜈 + − 𝜈 − 2(1 + 𝜈) =0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

Substituting the stress compatibility derived above:

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𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦

−𝜈 + −𝜈 + (1 + 𝜈) ( + )=0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦

− 𝜈 + − 𝜈 + + + 𝜈 + 𝜈 =0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕 2 𝜎𝑦𝑦

+ + + =0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

which simplifies to:

𝜕2 𝜕2
( + ) (𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 ) = ∇2 (𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 ) = 0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Now, the key equations that need to be considered are:

𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑦
+ =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑦
+ =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

∇2 (𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 ) = 0

An Airy stress function 𝜙 is a function that can satisfy the above three differential equations.
One option can be:

𝜕2𝜙
𝜎𝑥𝑥 =
𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕2𝜙
𝜎𝑦𝑦 =
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕2𝜙
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = −
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

For this form to satisfy the equilibrium equations (first two above), it must be the case that:

𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝜕 𝜕2𝜙 𝜕 𝜕2𝜙 𝜕3𝜙 𝜕3𝜙

+ = ( 2) + (− )= − =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑥 𝜕𝜎𝑦𝑦 𝜕 𝜕2𝜙 𝜕 𝜕2𝜙 𝜕3𝜙 𝜕3𝜙
+ = (− )+ ( )=− 2 + 2 =0
{ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

which is true for all functions 𝜙. For the third (compatibility) equation to be satisfied, we also
need:

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2 2
𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2𝜙 𝜕4𝜙 𝜕4𝜙 𝜕4𝜙
∇ (𝜎𝑥𝑥 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 ) = ∇ ( 2 + 2 ) = + 2 2 2 + 4 = ∇2 ∇2 𝜙 = 0
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 4 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

so only solutions to the bi-harmonic equation are valid Airy stress functions.

𝜕4𝜙 𝜕4𝜙 𝜕4𝜙

+ 2 + = ∇2 ∇2 𝜙 = 0
𝜕𝑥 4 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 4

Bi-harmonic equations have been studied extensively. Typical functions can be found
readily (cf. Zhang, Solid Mechanics for Engineers, 2001), representing a variety of different
stress distributions.

For a stress function to apply to a specific problem, it must also satisfy the known boundary
conditions. This will involve comparing the stress contours that can be obtained for various
stress function options.

5.2.2. Polar solution

The same argument applies regardless of the coordinate system used. For a polar coordinate
system, we have the following:

1 𝜕𝜙 1 𝜕 2 𝜙
𝜎𝑟𝑟 = +
𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 2 𝜕𝜃 2
𝜕2𝜙
𝜎𝜃𝜃 = 2
𝜕𝑟
𝜕 1 𝜕𝜙
𝜎𝑟𝜃 =− ( )
𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝜃 2

5.3. Rectangular plate under bending

5.3.1. Pure bending

M h/2 M

x
h/2

L
y

Step 1: Boundary conditions

Let’s start with the top and bottom edges.

ℎ
At 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿, 𝑦 = ± 2:

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𝜎𝑦𝑥 = 𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0 (free surfaces, but 𝜎𝑥𝑥 ≠ 0)

ℎ ℎ
At 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 𝐿, − 2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2:

𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 0 (since pure bending)

∫2ℎ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 0 (no axial force)

−
2

∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑀 (bending moment)

2
ℎ
−
2

Step 2: Observe the BCs and select a stress function

Now we need to choose an appropriate Airy stress function to satisfy the above BCs. From a
list of possible stress functions (e.g. Zhang, 2001), we can see that for 𝜙 = 𝑎𝑦 3, the
corresponding stresses are:

𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2
𝜎𝑥𝑥 = = (𝑎𝑦 3 ) = 6𝑎𝑦
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0

𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 0

In other words, 𝜎𝑥𝑥 varies linearly at the two ends, and all other stress components are zero.
Therefore, this choice of 𝜙 satisfies all of our boundary conditions.

Step 3: Use the BCs to determine the stress function fully

To determine the constant 𝑎, the bending moment BC can be used:

ℎ ℎ ℎ
2 2 2
1 ℎ3 ℎ3 𝑎ℎ3
∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = ∫(6𝑎𝑦)𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 6𝑎 ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 = 6𝑎× [ − (− )] = =𝑀
3 8 8 2
ℎ ℎ ℎ
−2 −2 −2

2𝑀
∴𝑎=
ℎ3

So the Airy stress function becomes:

2𝑀 3
𝜙=( )𝑦
ℎ3

and the stresses are:

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2𝑀 12𝑀
𝜎𝑥𝑥 = 6 ( 3
)𝑦 = 3 𝑦
ℎ ℎ

𝜕 2 𝜙 𝜕 2 2𝑀 3
𝜎𝑦𝑦 = = [( ) 𝑦 ] = 0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 ℎ3

𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2 2𝑀
𝜎𝑥𝑦 =− =− [( 3 ) 𝑦 3 ] = 0
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 ℎ

5.3.2. Cantilever beam

h/2 h/2

x x
h/2 V h/2 V

L L
y y

Step 1: Boundary conditions

ℎ
At 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿, 𝑦 = ± :
2

𝜎𝑦𝑥 = 𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0 (no surface stresses, but 𝜎𝑥𝑥 ≠ 0)

ℎ ℎ
At 𝑥 = 0, − 2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2:

𝑢 = 𝑣 = 𝑤 = 0 (fully clamped)

ℎ ℎ
At 𝑥 = 𝐿, − 2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2:

𝜎𝑥𝑥 = 0 (no axial force)

ℎ

∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑉 (from S-V principle)

2
ℎ
−2

Step 2: Observe the BCs and select a stress function

From the FBD (above), the clamped end can be separated into a linearly distributed normal
stress (with zero net stress overall) and a uniform shear stress.

There is no single function that satisfies all of our requirements, so we need to use the
principle of superposition with a combination of functions. Consider the following
candidates:

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Airy stress function Φ Corresponding stresses

𝜎𝑥𝑥 = 0
𝒂𝒙𝒚 𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = −𝑎

𝜎𝑥𝑥 = 6𝑎𝑥𝑦
𝒂𝒙𝒚𝟑 𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = −3𝑎𝑦

𝜎𝑥𝑥 = 6𝑎𝑦
𝒂𝒚𝟑 𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = 0

The first 𝜙 gives us a uniform shear, but for all boundaries. The second gives a uniform shear
at the top and bottom edges, but is non-uniform at the left and right edges. Superimposing the
two will therefore allow us to cancel out the top and bottom shears.

The second 𝜙 also leads to a normal stress at the right end (since 𝑥 = 𝐿), but the BC requires
a normal stress at the left end only. We therefore need another function to cancel out the right
end normal stress. This is where the third 𝜙 comes in.

Thus, we use 𝜙 = 𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑐𝑦 3 as our Airy stress function. (The constants for each
function should be independent.)

Step 3: Express the stress functions algebraically

𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2
𝜎𝑥𝑥 = = (𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑐𝑦 3 ) = 6𝑏𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑐𝑦
𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑦 2
𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2
𝜎𝑦𝑦 = = (𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑐𝑦 3 ) = 0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕2𝜙 𝜕2
𝜎𝑥𝑦 =− =− (𝑎𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑥𝑦 3 + 𝑐𝑦 3 ) = −(𝑎 + 3𝑏𝑦 2 )
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

Step 4: Apply the BCs to determine the constants in the stress functions

ℎ ℎ
𝜎𝑥𝑥 (𝑥 = 𝐿, − ≤ 𝑦 ≤ ) = 6𝑏𝐿𝑦 + 6𝑐𝑦 = 0 ⇒ 𝑏𝐿 + 𝑐 = 0
2 2

ℎ ℎ 2 3ℎ2 3ℎ2
𝜎𝑥𝑦 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿, 𝑦 = ) = − [𝑎 + 3𝑏 ( ) ] = −𝑎 − 𝑏=0 ⇒𝑎=− 𝑏
2 2 4 4

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ℎ ℎ
2 2
ℎ
𝑎ℎ 𝑏ℎ3 ℎ ℎ3
∫ 𝜎𝑥𝑦 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ −(𝑎 + 3𝑏𝑦 2 ) 𝑑𝑦 = [−𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 3 ]2 ℎ = − − − [−𝑎 (− ) − 𝑏 (− )] = 𝑉
−2 2 2 2 8
ℎ ℎ
− −
2 2

𝑉ℎ 2 𝑉 𝑉𝐿
𝑎=− ,𝑏 = ,𝑐 = −
8𝐼 6𝐼 6𝐼

Step 5: Determine the stress functions

𝑉
𝜎𝑥𝑥 = − (𝐿 − 𝑥)𝑦
𝐼

𝜎𝑦𝑦 = 0

𝑉 ℎ2
𝜎𝑥𝑦 = ( − 𝑦 2)
2𝐼 4

5.4. Stress concentration around a circular hole

b T
T a

Step 1: Establish relationships between the Cartesian and polar systems

Here, our loads are aligned with the x-axis, but the hole is circular and therefore more suited
to a polar system. We can convert the stresses using the following relationships.

1
𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 𝜎𝑥𝑥 cos 2 𝜃 + 𝜎𝑦𝑦 sin2 𝜃 + 2𝜎𝑥𝑦 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 = 𝑇 cos 2 𝜃 = 𝑇(1 + cos 2𝜃)
2

1
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = (𝜎𝑦𝑦 − 𝜎𝑥𝑥 ) sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 2𝜎𝑥𝑦 (cos 2 𝜃 − sin2 𝜃) = −𝑇 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 = − 𝑇 sin 2𝜃
2

Step 2: Boundary conditions

At 𝑟 = 𝑎:

𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 𝜎𝑟𝜃 = 0

At 𝑟 = 𝑏:

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1
𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 𝑇(1 + cos 2𝜃)
2

1
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = − 𝑇 sin 2𝜃
2

At the second boundary (𝑟 = 𝑏), superposition can be applied to yield:

1 1
𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 𝑇 + 𝑇 cos 2𝜃
2 2

The first term is a constant; the second is proportional to cos 2𝜃. Consider these separately:
1
Part 1 (independent of 𝜃): 𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 2 𝑇, 𝜎𝑟𝜃 = 0
1 1
Part 2 (dependent on 𝜃): 𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 2 𝑇 cos 2𝜃 , 𝜎𝑟𝜃 = − 2 𝑇 sin 2𝜃

Step 3: Select stress functions

Here are our candidate stress functions for this problem:

Airy stress function Φ Corresponding stresses

𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 2
𝒓𝟐 𝜎𝜃𝜃 = 2
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = 0

𝜎𝑟𝑟 = 𝑟 −2
𝒍𝒏 𝒓 𝜎𝜃𝜃 = −𝑟 −2
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = 0

𝜎𝑟𝑟 = −(𝜉 + 2)(𝜉 − 1)𝑟 −𝜉 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽)

𝒓𝟐−𝝃 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽) 𝜎𝜃𝜃 = (𝜉 − 2)(𝜉 − 1)𝑟 −𝜉 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽)
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = −𝜉(𝜉 − 1)𝑟 −𝜉 sin(𝝃𝜽)

𝜎𝑟𝑟 = −𝜉 (𝜉 − 1)𝑟 𝜉−2 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽)

𝒓𝝃 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽) 𝜎𝜃𝜃 = 𝜉(𝜉 − 1)𝑟 𝜉−2 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽)
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = 𝜉(𝜉 − 1)𝑟 𝜉−2 sin(𝝃𝜽)

𝜎𝑟𝑟 = −𝜉(𝜉 + 1)𝑟 −𝜉−2 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽)

𝒓−𝝃 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽) 𝜎𝜃𝜃 = 𝜉 (𝜉 + 1)𝑟 −𝜉−2 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝃𝜽)
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = −𝜉(𝜉 + 1)𝑟 −𝜉−2 sin(𝝃𝜽)

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MECH3361/9361 Semester 2, 2016

By superposition, we get:

𝜙 = 𝐶1 𝑟 2 + 𝐶2 ln 𝑟 + (𝐶3 + 𝐶4 𝑟 2 + 𝐶5 𝑟 −2 ) cos 2𝜃

Again, using the BCs to determine the constants yields the following:

𝑇 𝑎2 𝑇 3𝑎4 4𝑎2
𝜎𝑟𝑟 = (1 − 2 ) + (1 + 4 − 2 ) cos 2𝜃
2 𝑟 2 𝑟 𝑟
𝑇 𝑎2 𝑇 3𝑎4
𝜎𝜃𝜃 = (1 + 2 ) − (1 + 4 ) cos 2𝜃
2 𝑟 2 𝑟
𝑇 3𝑎4 2𝑎2
𝜎𝑟𝜃 = − (1 − 4 + 2 ) sin 2𝜃
2 𝑟 𝑟

From here, we can see that 𝜎𝜃𝜃 reaches a maximum when 𝑟 = 𝑎 and cos 2𝜃 = −1. This
means that at the edge of the hole:

𝑇 𝑎2 𝑇 3𝑎4
𝜎𝜃𝜃 = (1 + 2 ) − (1 + 4 ) cos 2𝜃
2 𝑟 2 𝑟
2
𝑇 𝑎 𝑇 3𝑎4
= (1 + 2 ) − (1 + 4 ) (−1)
2 𝑎 2 𝑎
= 3𝑇
We can define a stress concentration factor 𝑘 as:

𝜎𝜃𝜃,𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑘=
𝜎𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙

So for this small through-hole case, 𝑘 = 3. This is an important result for mechanical design
because this high stress region often affects the safety of a structure.

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