Free Shear Stress Calculator
Calculate the average shear stress acting on a cross-section from an applied shear force.
kN
mm^2
Average Shear Stress
16.67 MPa
Average Shear Stress vs Shear Force (V)
Average Shear Stress
Shear stress arises from forces acting parallel to a cross-section.
Formula
tau_avg = V / A
where V is the internal shear force and A is the cross-sectional area resisting the shear. For beams, the actual shear stress distribution is parabolic (maximum at the neutral axis), and the peak value for a rectangle is 1.5 times the average.
Example Calculation
A steel plate connection with 3000 mm^2 shear area carries 50 kN.
- 01Convert force: 50 kN = 50,000 N
- 02tau = 50,000 / 3,000 = 16.67 MPa
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