Applied Technical Services provides shear strength testing services to determine the strength of products exposed to shear loads. The shearing of a material refers to a sliding failure caused by forces that are applied in a parallel but opposing direction, permanently deforming the material as it slides against itself. Because a variety of products may be subject to “shear loads” that can result in failure, it is important to determine the ability of materials to resist these forces. Shear strength is found by measuring the maximum level of stress that a test material can sustain before it ruptures. Materials that are often tested for shear strength include: Adhesives, Composites, Fasteners, Films, and Plastics, among others.