Which type of strain results from non-uniform loading conditions?

Shear strain is the type of strain that arises from non-uniform loading conditions. This occurs when different parts of a material experience varying amounts of force, which leads to deformation in a direction parallel to the force. In non-uniform loading, the distribution of loads causes certain regions of the material to slide or distort relative to others, generating shear strain.

This strain is essential to consider because it can lead to failure modes not seen with uniform loading. For example, in structures like beams subjected to unevenly distributed loads, one part may experience more force than another, causing it to deform in shearing rather than stretching or compressing uniformly.

In contrast, normal strain occurs under uniform loading conditions where the material is pulled or compressed uniformly across its length. Volumetric strain pertains to changes in volume due to uniform pressure applied equally in all directions. Compressive strain specifically relates to the reduction in size that a material undergoes when a compressive load is uniformly applied, but this too assumes more uniform loading conditions. Therefore, shear strain is the most relevant type of strain in the context of non-uniform loading conditions.