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Von Mises Yield Criterion

1913
  • Richard von Mises
  • Maksymilian Tytus Huber
Mechanical engineering laboratory testing ductile materials using von Mises yield criterion.

(generated image for illustration only)

The von Mises yield criterion predicts that yielding of a ductile material begins when the second deviatoric stress invariant, \(J_2\), reaches a critical value. It is often expressed in terms of the von Mises stress, \(\sigma_v\), a scalar value that must be less than the material’s yield strength, \(\sigma_y\). Yielding occurs when \(\sigma_v = \sigma_y\).

The von Mises yield criterion, also known as the maximum distortion energy criterion, is a widely used model for predicting the onset of plastic deformation in ductile materials. It postulates that yielding begins when the elastic strain energy of distortion per unit volume in a material reaches a critical value. This is distinct from the hydrostatic energy (associated with volume change), which is assumed not to contribute to yielding in ductile metals.

Mathematically, this is equivalent to stating that the second invariant of the deviatoric stress tensor, \(J_2\), reaches a constant value. The deviatoric stress tensor is the total stress tensor minus its hydrostatic component. The criterion is often expressed through the von Mises equivalent stress, \(\sigma_v\), which is a scalar combination of the six components of the stress tensor. For a general 3D state of stress, it is calculated as: \(\sigma_v = \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}[(\sigma_{11}-\sigma_{22})^2 + (\sigma_{22}-\sigma_{33})^2 + (\sigma_{33}-\sigma_{11})^2 + 6(\sigma_{12}^2 + \sigma_{23}^2 + \sigma_{31}^2)]}\).

Yielding is predicted to occur when \(\sigma_v\) equals the material’s yield strength, \(\sigma_y\), which is typically determined from a simple uniaxial tensile test. In principal stress space, the von Mises criterion defines a smooth, circular cylinder whose axis is the hydrostatic line (\(\sigma_1 = \sigma_2 = \sigma_3\)). This contrasts with the Tresca criterion, which defines a hexagonal prism. The von Mises criterion generally provides a better fit with experimental data for most ductile metals and is continuously differentiable, which is advantageous in numerical computations.

UNESCO Nomenclature: 2208
– Mechanics

Type

Abstract System

Disruption

Substantial

Usage

Widespread Use

Precursors

  • Beltrami’s total strain energy theory
  • Huber’s earlier formulation of the distortion energy concept
  • Development of the Cauchy stress tensor
  • Experimental observations of yielding in ductile metals

Applications

  • predicting failure in ductile materials like steel and aluminum in mechanical and civil engineering
  • finite element analysis (FEA) to visualize and assess stress concentrations
  • design of pressure vessels and piping systems
  • automotive component design for durability and crash safety

Patents:

NA

Potential Innovations Ideas

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Related to: von Mises stress, yield criterion, plasticity, ductile materials, failure theory, deviatoric stress, distortion energy, J2 plasticity.

Historical Context

Von Mises Yield Criterion

1909
1910
1911-04-08
1913
1915
1916
1917
1907
1909
1910
1912
1915
1915-11
1916
1918

(if date is unknown or not relevant, e.g. "fluid mechanics", a rounded estimation of its notable emergence is provided)

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