Shear Stress Calculator

Calculate the shear stress in materials when force and area are known

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Calculation Formula

τ = F / A

Where:
τ = Shear Stress (Pa)
F = Force applied (N)
A = Area over which force is applied (mm²)

Shear Stress Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Shear Stress Calculator and understand the concept of shear stress

What is Shear Stress?

Shear stress is a type of stress that occurs when two adjacent parts of a material slide relative to each other in a parallel direction. It's an important concept in engineering as it determines how materials will fail under forces that cause slippage rather than stretching or compression.

How to Use the Calculator

  1. Enter the force applied on the material in Newtons (N)
  2. Enter the area over which the force is applied in square millimeters (mm²)
  3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the shear stress
  4. The result will be displayed in both Pascals (Pa) and kilopascals (kPa)

Example Calculation

Suppose you apply a force of 500 N on an area of 10 mm². The shear stress would be:

τ = 500 N / 10 mm² = 50,000 Pa = 50 kPa

Applications

This calculator is useful in various engineering fields including:

  • Structural engineering for beam analysis
  • Mechanical engineering for fastener design
  • Material science for understanding material behavior under forces
  • Civil engineering for connection design in buildings and bridges

Important Notes

Remember that the units must be consistent. If you use mm² for area, the result will be in Pascals (Pa). If you need the result in kilopascals (kPa), you can divide the result in Pa by 1000.