Modes of Failure—Primary and Secondary Stresses

Abstract

The paper begins with a reminder that the purpose of stress classification is to ensure suitable margins with respect to failure modes. The distinction between primary stresses and secondary stress is then examined and a method is given for assessing the degree of spring effect (elastic follow-up) in the elastic plastic field. The importance of the spring effect is then highlighted by an examination of the effect of primary and secondary stresses on instability and on crack behavior.