Shear Stress Calculator — Formula
## 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.
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.
Exemplo Resolvido
A steel plate connection with 3000 mm^2 shear area carries 50 kN.
- Convert force: 50 kN = 50,000 N
- tau = 50,000 / 3,000 = 16.67 MPa