# Shear strength

Shear strength

Shear strength in engineering is a term used to describe the strength of a material or component against the type of yield or structural failure where the material or component fails in shear.

In structural and mechanical engineering the shear strength of a component is important for designing the dimensions and materials to be used for the manufacture/construction of the component. For example, beams, plates, bolts etc. In a reinforced concrete beam, the main purpose of stirrups is to increase the shear strength.

For shear stress $au$ applies

:$au = frac \left\{sigma_1 - sigma_2\right\}\left\{2\right\} ,$

where:$sigma_1$ is major principal stress:$sigma_2$ is minor principal stress

In general: ductile materials fail in shear (ex. aluminum), whereas brittle materials (ex. cast iron) fail in tension. See tensile strength.

To calculate:Given failing force and area, example-bolt shear strength:

:$au = frac \left\{F\right\}\left\{A\right\} = frac \left\{F\right\}\left\{pi r_\left\{bolt\right\}^2\right\} = frac \left\{4F\right\}\left\{pi d_\left\{bolt\right\}^2\right\}$

ee also

* Shear modulus
* Shear stress
* Shear strain
* Shear strength (soil)

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