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Reference.org
Shear stress
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<p>Shear stress (often denoted by τ, <a href="/facts/Greek_alphabet/1cHwB8Dg">Greek</a>: <a href="/facts/Tau/gfvnmJoH">tau</a>) is the component of <a href="/facts/Stress_(physics)/ErAXDbbd">stress</a> <a href="/facts/Coplanar/dSTa1bcb">coplanar</a> with a <a href="/facts/Material_cross_section/g5R1c6v2">material cross section</a>. It arises from the <a href="/facts/Shear_force/hVKPYRar">shear force</a>, the component of <a href="/facts/Force/LNAUWMwK">force</a> vector parallel to the material cross section. <i><a href="/facts/Normal_stress/ErAXDbbd">Normal stress</a></i>, on the other hand, arises from the force vector component perpendicular to the material cross section on which it acts. </p>