Reference: Abbott, Richard. Analysis and Design of Composite and Metallic Flight Vehicle Structures 3 Edition, 2019 

The various material failure criteria defined in this chapter are used for different reasons in a range of different situations. General stress analysis should not always reach for these solutions. Where the stress is predominantly uniaxial a simple comparison to Fty or Ftu  is sufficient, or where the stress is predominantly shear, a comparison to Fsy  or Fsu is sufficient.

The need to go to a plane stress criterion is dependent on the complexity of the stress field and the general magnitude of the stress, and is at the discretion of the engineer.