Stress space

In continuum mechanics, Haigh–Westergaard stress space, or simply stress space is a 3-dimensional space in which the three spatial axes represent the three principal stresses for a body subject to stress. This space is named after Bernard Haigh and Harold M. Westergaard.

Visualisation of a Cauchy stress tensor σ in the Haight-Westergaard stress space

Functions of the principal stresses, such as the yield function, can be represented by surfaces in 'stress space. In particular, the surface represented by von Mises yield function is a right circular cylinder, equiaxial to each of the three stress axes.

In 2-dimensional models, stress space reduces to a plane and the von Mises yield surface reduces to an ellipse.