Shear Modulus (Modulus of Rigidity)
Definition
A material property that describes its resistance to shear deformation. Denoted as G, it relates shear stress to shear strain in the elastic region. For most metals, G ≈ E/(2(1+ν)) where E is elastic modulus and ν is Poisson's ratio.
Practical Note
Steel has G ≈ 79 GPa, stainless steel ≈ 69 GPa, and phosphor bronze ≈ 41 GPa. This property is critical for spring and shaft design.