Answer
The shear strength $S_s$ of a metallic alloy is generally related to its ultimate tensile strength $S_u$. According to the Distortion Energy Theory (Von Mises criteria), $S_s = 0.577 \cdot S_u$. For SAE 1070 carbon steel with $S_u = 210,000$ psi, the theoretical shear strength is $S_s \approx 121,170$ psi. When calculating the axial thrust capacity $P_r$, we use $P_r = \frac{D \cdot t \cdot \pi \cdot S_s}{K}$. If the required thrust load is $10,000$ lbs and the diameter $D$ is $2.0$ inches, the minimum thickness $t$ (assuming $K=3$) would be $t = \frac{10000 \cdot 3}{2.0 \cdot \pi \cdot 121170} \approx 0.039$ inches. Engineers must also account for the shear strength of the groove material, which is often much lower, particularly in aluminum alloys like 6061-T6 ($S_s \approx 27,000$ psi).
