Shear stress

Shear stress

Shear stress is a stress state where the shape of a material tends to change (usually by "sliding" forces - couples of transversely-acting forces) without particular volume change. The shape change is evaluated by measuring the change of the angle's magnitude (shear strain).

In laboratory shear stress is achieved by the torsion of a specimen. Direct shear or specimens by force couples induce shear stress as well as tensile and compressive stress.

Structural members subjected in pure shear stress are the torsion bars and the driving shafts. Some bolts are also subjected mainly in shear stress. Cantilevers, beams and columns heads are subject in composite loadings consist of shear, tensile and compressive stress.

(See also: Shear, Shear strength, Tensile stress, Strength of materials)