# Finding flexural compressive stress and tensile stress

1. ### pvpkillerx

22
How would I use a shear force diagram and a bending moment diagram to find the maximum flexural compressive stress and the maximum flexural tensile stress?

I am assuming the peaks at the bending moment diagram is the maximum tensile and compressive stresses? Am I correct?

Also, is it possible to determine the shear stress from a shear force diagram or a bending moment diagram?

2. ### radou

3,108
Shear force and bending moment diagrams represent quantities of forces and moments, respectively. Forces and moments are not stresses. A bit simplified answer is that stress is the force per unit area. So, if you have some force diagrams, you need to know some cross section characteristics in order to obtain stresses. And, of course, yes, you usually look for the stresses at the points which are peaks of force diagrams.

3. ### pvpkillerx

22
Thank you!

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