The principal stresses, [latex]sigma_1[/latex] and [latex]sigma_2[/latex], are the maximum and minimum normal stresses at a point, occurring on planes with zero shear stress. On Il cerchio di Mohr, these correspond to the two points where the circle intersects the horizontal ([latex]sigma_n[/latex]) axis. The maximum in-plane shear stress, [latex]tau_{max}[/latex], is equal to the radius of the circle, [latex]R[/latex].

















