What are the daily life examples of shear stress?

Shear stress is a common phenomenon that occurs in numerous everyday activities and situations. Here are some examples of shear stress in daily life:

Cutting and Chopping

• Using scissors to cut paper, fabric, or other materials. The blades of the scissors exert shear stress on the material, causing it to separate234.
• Cutting vegetables, fruits, or meats with a knife, where the blade applies shear stress to the food24.
• Cutting nails with a nail cutter, which applies shear force to the nail4.

Daily Actions

• Brushing teeth, where the brush applies shear stress to the teeth and gums3.
• Painting, where the brush or roller applies shear stress to the paint and the surface being painted3.
• Opening a screw or a bottle cap, which involves applying shear stress to the cap or screw3.

Movement and Transportation

• Walking or running, where your feet push against the ground, exerting shear stress on the ground24.
• When a vehicle starts or stops, the seat and other parts experience shear stress due to the forces involved2.

Eating and Digestion

• Chewing food between your teeth, which applies shear stress to break down the food2.

Structural and Engineering Contexts

• In construction, shear stress is crucial in the design of foundations, beams, and columns. For example, friction piles in soft soil foundations resist shear forces to keep the building stable4.
• Shear stress in pipelines and hydraulic systems, where the flow of fluids (like water or oils) exerts shear stress on the walls of the pipes1.

Other Examples

• Using a paper punching machine to punch holes in paper, which applies shear force to the paper4.
• The erosion of river beds due to the flow of water, which causes shear stress on the river bed1.
• When a sand castle collapses under foot, it is due to the shear stress exerted by the weight and movement on the sand2.

These examples illustrate how shear stress is an integral part of various daily activities and engineering applications.