Consider a square element ABCD subjected to pure shear strain.

The shape of the square is deformed to ABC 1D1, the diagonal AC is shortened while the diagonal BD is elongated (figure 1). Therefore, the diagonal AC is subjected to compressive stress while the diagonal BD is subjected to tensile stress. The tensile stress along the diagonal BD will produce a longitudinal tensile strain in the diagonal BD and a lateral compressive strain in the diagonal AC. Similarly, the compressive stress along the diagonal AC will produce a longitudinal compressive strain in the diagonal AC and a lateral tensile strain in the diagonal BD.

Figure 1.

Now, by using the equations of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio : The longitudinal tensile strain in the diagonal due to the tensile stress along the diagonal =

The lateral tensile strain in the diagonal due to the compressive stress along the diagonal =

Total tensile strain in the diagonal = + = (1 + )

(1)

Similarly, the total compressive strain in the diagonal = (1 + )

Also, the total tensile strain in the diagonal =

Increase in length Original length

(2)

Consider that the shear angle is very small and therefore 1 is very small. Hence, we can take can consider that = and = 11 = 45. In triangle 1, cos (1 ) = cos 45 =
1 1

1 = 1 cos 45 = In triangle ABD, = 2 + 2 =

1 2

= 22 = 2 Now, from equation (2), The total tensile strain in the diagonal = From the definition of shear strain,
1 1 1 1
1 2

1 2

= Shear strain

 The total tensile strain in the diagonal = By equating the equations (1) and (3),
1 2

1 2

= Shear strain
2 1 Shear stress

(3 ) = (1 + )

The total tensile strain in the diagonal = Shear strain = = (1 + ) 2 2(1 + )

2 Shear modulus

= 2(1 + ) or =