EngiRef / Materials Engineering Formula

Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress)

Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress): Maximum shear stress failure criterion. A Failure Theories formula in materials engineering. Variables τₘₐₓ, σ₁ and σ₃…

Failure Theories

Specification

Name
Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress)
Discipline
materials
Category
Failure Theories
LaTeX
\tau_{max} = \frac{\sigma_1 - \sigma_3}{2}
Description
Maximum shear stress failure criterion
Conditions
For ductile materials; σ₁ ≥ σ₂ ≥ σ₃
Can solve for
τₘₐₓ
Tags
tresca, shear, stress, failure, yield

Variables

Variables for Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress)
SymbolNameUnitSi UnitImperial Unit
τₘₐₓMaximum Shear StressPaPapsi
σ₁Max Principal StressPaPapsi
σ₃Min Principal StressPaPapsi