Failure Criteria

Maximum shear stress criterion (Tresca's Criterion):
This criterion is often used to predect the yielding of ductile material


Maximum distorsion energy (Von Mises Criterion):
This criterion is used to predict the yielding of ductile material. It can also give a reasonable estimation of fatigue failure.


For plane stresses,

Maximum stress criterion (Rankine Criterion):
This criterion is used to predict the yielding of crittle material. It states that failure occurs when the maximum principal stress reaches the yield stress of the material.

compression tension