What is the definition of shear strength (σ) in Mohr's Circle?

 

In Mohr's Circle, shear strength (σ) is defined as the maximum shear stress acting on a plane in the overall 2-D stressed body. It is equal to one half the difference of the major and minor principal stresses, and is represented by the radius of Mohr's Circle.

The equation for shear strength in Mohr's Circle is:σ = (σ1 - σ2) / 2

where:

    σ1 is the major principal stress

    σ2 is the minor principal stress

The shear strength is important in engineering because it is a measure of the ability of a material to resist shear forces. Materials with high shear strength are more resistant to failure in shear.

In Mohr's Circle, shear strength is plotted as the ordinate (y-coordinate) of a point on the circle. The abscissa (x-coordinate) of the point represents the normal stress on the plane. The center of the circle represents the average of the major and minor principal stresses.

Mohr's Circle is a useful tool for visualizing the state of stress at a point in a material. It can be used to determine the principal stresses, maximum shear stress, and the planes on which these stresses occur.