Plan the Solution  
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The figure shows a vertical bar of width 50 millimeters. An inclined section labeled a a is shown making an angle 36 degrees with the vertical. The load at the bottom end of the bar is directed vertically downwards.

Several approaches could be used to determine the maximum load P. For this example, the following procedure will be used:

1. Using the angle θ, the area of the rectangular bar exposed on section a-a will be computed.

2. Either the normal stress limit or the shear stress limit will dictate the maximum axial force P that can be applied to the bar, but there is no way to know beforehand which stress will control. Therefore, both possibilities must be checked.