Enter the shear force, the first moment of area, a moment of inertia, and material thickness. The calculator will evaluate the shear stress acting on the material.
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Shear Stress Formula
The following equation can be used to calculate the shear stress acting on a straight beam.
s = (V*Q/I*t)
- Where s is the shear stress (N/m^2)
- V is the total shear force (N*m)
- Q is the first moment of area (m^3)
- I is the moment of inertia (m^4)
- t is the thickness of the material (m)
Shear Stress Definition
Shear stress is stress seen in objects that is co-planar with the material cross-section. That is stress that is acting in the same direction as the cross-section. This stress is only one component of the total stress on an object under force.
Shear Stree Example
How to calculate shear stress?
- First, determine the total shear force.
Measure the total shear force acting on the area.
- Next, determine the first moment of area.
Calculate the first moment of the area that the force is acting on.
- Next, determine the moment of inertia.
Calculate the moment of inertia of the object/surface.
- Next, determine the thickness.
Measure the thickness of the material.
- Finally, calculate the shear stress.
Using the formula above, calculate the shear stress.
FAQ
A shear stress is any stress that acts co-planar to a cross-sectional area that often causes the process of “shearing”.

