Shear Stress Formula:
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Shear stress in a shaft is the force per unit area that tends to cause deformation of the material by slippage along planes parallel to the imposed stress. It's a critical parameter in mechanical design that determines the shaft's ability to withstand torsional loads.
The calculator uses the shear stress formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the maximum shear stress in a circular shaft subjected to pure torsion, based on the torque applied and the shaft diameter.
Details: Accurate shear stress calculation is crucial for designing shafts that can safely transmit power without failure. It helps engineers determine appropriate shaft dimensions and material selection for various applications.
Tips: Enter torque in Newton-meters and shaft diameter in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the shear stress in Pascals.
Q1: What is the significance of the 16/π factor in the formula?
A: The 16/π factor comes from the polar moment of inertia calculation for a circular cross-section and the relationship between torque and shear stress.
Q2: Does this formula apply to hollow shafts?
A: No, this specific formula is for solid circular shafts. Hollow shafts require a different formula that accounts for inner and outer diameters.
Q3: What are typical shear stress limits for shaft materials?
A: Shear stress limits vary by material. Steel shafts typically have allowable shear stresses between 40-100 MPa, while aluminum may be 20-50 MPa, depending on the specific alloy and application.
Q4: How does shaft diameter affect shear stress?
A: Shear stress is inversely proportional to the cube of the diameter. Doubling the diameter reduces shear stress by a factor of 8.
Q5: When is this formula not applicable?
A: This formula assumes pure torsion, homogeneous material, and circular cross-section. It may not be accurate for shafts with keyways, splines, or other stress concentrators.