Problem 2.7. Strain gauges

A steel plate is in in-plane stress condition. On its surface the following strains are measured by gauges in three directions: εA=6×10–4, εB=2×10–5,εC=4×10–4.Determine the stresses of the plate in the x’-y’ coordinate system given in the Figure. Give the strain along the thickness of the plate. Material properties are: E = 210 GPa , ν = 0.3.

Solve Problem

Solve

Stress, σ’x [MPa]=

Stress, σ’y [MPa]=

Stress, τ‘x [MPa]=

Strain along the thickness, ε’z  [×10-4] =

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Steps

Step by step

Step 1.  Applying transformation matrices express the measured strains, εA, εB, εC in the function of the unknown strains, ε‘x, ε‘y, γ‘xy.

Check expressions

See Example 2.4

εA=ε‘y

Strain gauge A is placed in y‘ direction thus without any transformation it’s measured strain results directly strain in y‘ direction 

ε=Tεε‘=cos245°sin245°sin45°cos135°sin245°cos245°–sin45°cos135°–2sin45°cos45°2sin45°cos45°cos245°–sin245°ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy→εB=εx=ε‘xcos245°+ε‘ysin245°+γ‘xysin45°cos45°=ε‘x2+ε‘y2+γ‘xy2→εC=εxy=ε‘xsin245°+ε‘ycos245°–γ‘xysin45°cos45°=ε‘x2+ε‘y2–γ‘xy2

Step 2.  Transformation results in an equation system. Solve and calculate the three unknown strains in the x’-y‘ coordinate system.

Check expressions

εAεBεC=0101212121212–12ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy   →   ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy=1001212121212–12–16×10–42×10–54×10–4 ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy= –1.8×10–46.0×10–4–3.8×10–4

Step 3. Write the stiffness matrix and determine stresses in the x’-y‘ coordinate system.

Check stresses

Stresses are obtained by the multiplication of stiffness matrix of the isotropic material and the strain vector.

Eq.(2-58).

σ‘=Eε‘x=11–ν2EνE0νEE000E1–ν2ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy=2101–0.320.3×2101–0.3200.3×2101–0.322101–0.3200080.77–1.86–3.8×10–4σ‘xσ‘yτ‘xy=0 126–30.69MPa

Step 4. Give strain, εz along the thickness of the plate. 

Check stresses

The plate is in-plane stress condition, thus no σz stress arises along z axis. Strain, ε’z along the thickness of the plate is caused by the Poisson effect only. See the “generalized” Hooke’s law.

Eq.(2-72).

ε‘xε‘yε‘zγ‘yzγ‘xzγ‘xy=1E–νE–νE–νE1E–νE–νE–νE1E2(1+ν)E2(1+ν)E2(1+ν)Eσ‘xσ‘y000τ‘xy→   ε‘z=–νσ‘xE–νσ‘yE=0–0.3×0.126210=–1.8×10–4

Results

Worked out solution

Applying transformation matrices the measured strains, εA, εB, εC can be expressed in the function of the unknown strains, ε‘x, ε‘y, γ‘xy. 

See Example 2.4

εA=ε‘y

Strain gauge A is placed in y‘ direction thus without any transformation it’s measured strain results directly strain in y‘ direction 

ε=Tεε‘=cos245°sin245°sin45°cos45°sin45°cos245°–sin45°cos45°–2sin45°cos45°2sin45°cos45°cos245°–sin245°ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy→εB=εx=ε‘xcos245°+ε‘ysin245°+γ‘xysin45°cos45°=ε‘x2+ε‘y2+γ‘xy2→εC=εy=ε‘xsin245°+ε‘ycos245°–γ‘xysin45°cos45°=ε‘x2+ε‘y2–γ‘xy2

Transformation results in an equation system the solution of which results in the three unknown strains in x’-y‘ coordinate system.

εAεBεC=0101212121212–12ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy   →   ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy=1001212121212–12–16×10–42×10–54×10–4 ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy= –1.8×10–46.0×10–4–3.8×10–4Stresses in the x’-y‘ coordinate system are obtained by the multiplication of stiffness matrix of the isotropic material and the strain vector.

Eq.(2-58).

σ‘=Eε‘x=11–ν2EνE0νEE000E1–ν2ε‘xε‘yγ‘xy=2101–0.320.3×2101–0.3200.3×2101–0.322101–0.3200080.77–1.86–3.8×10–4σ‘xσ‘yτ‘xy=0 126–30.69MPa

The plate is in-plane stress condition, thus no σz stress arises along z axis. Strain, ε’z along the thickness of the plate is caused by the Poisson effect only. See the “generalized” Hooke’s law.

Eq.(2-72).

ε‘xε‘yε‘zγ‘yzγ‘xzγ‘xy=1E–νE–νE–νE1E–νE–νE–νE1E2(1+ν)E2(1+ν)E2(1+ν)Eσ‘xσ‘y000τ‘xy→   ε‘z=–νσ‘xE–νσ‘yE=0–0.3×0.126210=–1.8×10–4