Shear Stress Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the shear stress calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Average Shear Stress
avg_shear = v_n / areaVariables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
shear_force | Shear Force (V)(kN) | 50 |
area | Cross-Sectional Area (A)(mm^2) | 3000 |
v_n | Derived value= shear_force * 1000 | calculated |
How It Works
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.
Worked Example
A steel plate connection with 3000 mm^2 shear area carries 50 kN.
shear_force = 50area = 3000
- 01Convert force: 50 kN = 50,000 N
- 02tau = 50,000 / 3,000 = 16.67 MPa
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Shear Stress Calculator