What is the difference between shear stress and tensile stress?

First, Stress refers to how much deforming force is applied on an area/surface.

Shear stress refers to cases where this deforming force is applied parallel to the surface.

while

Tensile stress refers to cases where the deforming force is applied perpendicular to the surface.

Shear stress

The state where the stress is parallel to the surface of the material. It is relevant to the motion of fluids upon surfaces, which result in the generation of shear stress. Shear stress is responsible for deformation of a material i.e. shape change of the material.

A tensile stress is responsible for volumetric strains if it is uniform throughout the surface.

The Main Difference is that the tensile stress refers to cases where a deforming force is applied at right angles to a surface, whereas shear stress refers to cases where a deforming force is applied parallel to a surface.

shear stress refers to cases where a deforming force is applied parallel to a surface, whereas tensile stress refers to cases where a deforming force is applied at right angles to a surface.

A tensile stress is responsible for volumetric strains and hence can also be known as hydrostatic stress if it is uniform throughout the surface while a shear stress is responsible for deformation of a material i.e. shape change of the material

tensile strength is defined as the maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched..shear strength is the material ability to stand against the tangential forces in a structure...