Shear Strength
The stress at which a material fails in shear; the key input to cutting-force calculations.
What it means on the floor
Shear strength is the maximum shear stress a material can withstand before it fractures. For stamping, it is the property that determines how hard a punch must push to cut a blank or slug.
When a published shear strength is not available, it is often estimated as roughly 75–80% of the material’s ultimate tensile strength for many steels.
Category: Materials
Applying the term
Interpret Shear Strength in the context of the drawing, governing standard, and customer requirement in front of you — the same word can carry different limits in design, quality, and production documents. Check whether a stated value is nominal, minimum, maximum, or reference-only, and whether it applies before forming, after forming, or after heat treatment.