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

Common questions

What is the Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress) formula?
Maximum shear stress failure criterion. It sits under Failure Theories, Materials engineering in the EngiRef reference.
What do the symbols in the Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress) formula mean?
In Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress), τₘₐₓ is maximum shear stress in Pa; σ₁ is max principal stress in Pa; σ₃ is min principal stress in Pa.
When does the Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress) formula apply?
Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress) holds under this condition: For ductile materials; σ₁ ≥ σ₂ ≥ σ₃.