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Shear Plane in Geology
A shear plane, also known as a "shear zone," is a type of a geologic fault. Rocks in this area are more stressed when compared to rocks in other zones. The size of a shear plane can be as small as several inches or as wide as several kilometers. A lot of shear zones host ore deposits like copper, gold and other minerals.
Shearing in geology occurs when stresses act upon a body of rock. This happens when parallel rocks parallel move or slide against each other. In structural geology, this refers to the Strike-Slip Fault and is common at the edges of tectonic blocks.
Glacial Shearing
Flowing glaciers are constantly subjected to glacial shear stress. This occurs due to an imbalance in amounts of accumulation against ablation in the surface slope. Since glaciers move by sliding, stress also occurs at the bottom of the glacier as it flows against the ice bed. Understanding glacial shearing helps scientists understand more about glacial motion, glacial erosion and the unique process by which glaciers produce landforms.
Mechanics
In mechanics, a shear plane is the area where shear stress occurs when cutting a sheet of metal. Stress directly applied to a sheet of metal is called direct or normal stress. If you apply this stress or force indirectly or in parallel to the surface of the metal, it is referred to as shear stress. This parallel application causes metals to slide or shear against each other. The area where it occurs is called the shear plane.
Engineering Uses
Engineers analyze shear planes and shearing to prevent mechanical failure. Since different equipment and materials have different limits on the amounts of stress they can withstand, knowing how much can mean the difference between efficiency and a breakdown.