Normal Stress

The stress which act normal to the plane or surface of object is known as ‘Normal Stress’.

In above fig.1 normal stresses are shown. The stress in X-direction is denoted by σ_x while stress in Y-direction is denoted by σ_y. They are also mentioned on the basis of its nature, i.e. in above fig. stress in X-direction is also mentioned as ‘Normal compressive stress in X-direction’ and stress in Y-direction is mentioned as ‘Normal tensile stress in Y-direction’.