What does 'shear strength' refer to in steel?

Shear strength refers to the capacity of a material, such as steel, to resist sliding forces that occur when external loads are applied parallel to a material's surface. In the context of structural applications, shear strength is crucial because it determines how much force can be applied before the material fails due to shear stress. This is particularly important in scenarios where forces may cause different sections of a structure to move sideways relative to each other, leading to potential failure in connections or structural elements.

Understanding shear strength is fundamental for ironworkers and engineers as they design structures to ensure they can withstand the forces they will be subjected to during their service life. In contrast, the other options relate to different mechanical properties of materials: stretching and bending would involve tensile and flexural strengths, respectively, while resistance to high temperatures pertains to thermal properties rather than shear strength.