1. What is a Principal Stress Failure Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines whether a material will fail based on the maximum principal stress theory (Rankine's theory).

Purpose: It helps engineers and designers verify if a material will yield under given stress conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the failure criterion:

Where:

• σ₁ — Maximum principal stress (Pa)
• σ_yield — Material yield stress (Pa)

Explanation: If the maximum principal stress exceeds the material's yield strength, failure will occur.

3. Importance of Principal Stress Analysis

Details: Principal stress analysis is crucial for structural integrity, preventing material failure, and ensuring safety in design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the maximum principal stress and material yield stress in Pascals (Pa). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is principal stress?
A: Principal stresses are the normal stresses on planes where shear stress is zero, representing the extreme stress values.

Q2: What's a typical yield stress for steel?
A: Mild steel typically has a yield stress around 250 MPa (250,000,000 Pa).

Q3: What does the safety factor mean?
A: A safety factor > 1 indicates the material can withstand the stress, while < 1 indicates potential failure.

Q4: Is this only for ductile materials?
A: The maximum principal stress theory works best for brittle materials. For ductile materials, consider von Mises criterion.

Q5: How do I find principal stresses?
A: Use our Principal Stress Calculator or solve the characteristic equation of the stress tensor.