What is the procedure for calculating the shear capacity of a retaining ring versus the yield capacity of the groove wall?

The thrust capacity of a retaining ring assembly is the lower of the ring's shear strength and the groove's yield strength. Ring shear is $P_s = D t \pi S_s$, where $S_s$ is the shear strength of the material (approx. 0.6 times Tensile Strength). Groove yield is $P_y = D d \pi S_y$, where $d$ is the groove depth and $S_y$ is the yield strength of the housing material. If the housing is a softer material like Aluminum 6061-T6, the groove yield usually becomes the limiting factor, requiring a deeper groove or a thicker ring to distribute the load across a larger area.