⚙️ Shear Stress Calculator
Calculate shear stress, the internal force per unit area acting parallel to a material’s cross-section.
What shear stress measures
Shear stress is the internal force per unit area that acts parallel (tangential) to a material’s cross-section, as opposed to normal stress, which acts perpendicular to it. It is calculated simply as τ = F / A, where F is the shear force applied and A is the cross-sectional area it acts across.
How this calculator works
Enter the shear force applied to a component and the cross-sectional area over which that force acts. The calculator divides force by area to give the shear stress, converting the result into megapascals, pascals, and pounds per square inch (PSI) for convenience.
Engineers compare calculated shear stress against a material’s shear strength to check whether a bolt, pin, weld, or beam can safely carry a load. This calculator is for general engineering and educational planning purposes, not a substitute for a certified structural analysis.