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Shear stress is a stress state where the shape of a material tends to change (usually by "sliding" forces - torque by transversely-acting forces) without particular volume change. The shape change is evaluated by measuring the change of the angle's magnitude (shear strain).

In laboratory testing, shear stress is achieved by torsion of a specimen. Direct shear of a specimen by a moment induces shear stress, as well as tensile and compressive stress.

Structural members subjected in pure shear stress are the torsion bars and the driving shafts in automobiles. Riveted and bolted joints may also be mainly subjected to shear stress. Cantilevers, beams, consoles and column heads are subject in composite loading, consising of shear, tensile and compressive stress.

Also constructions in soil can fail due to shear, e.g. the weight of an earth fill damA dam (a common Teutonic word, compare to Dutch dam Swedish and German damm and the Gothic verb faurdammjan to block up) is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. Most d or dike may cause the subsoil to collapse, like a small landslideThis entry refers to the geological term landslide . For the word's political usage, see landslide victory. A landslide is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes, and shallow debr.

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