True or False: A shear load pulls straight down and is less likely to pull the fastener out.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends
• D. Not specified

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how fasteners handle different load directions. A shear load acts parallel to the plane of the joined sheets, making the pieces slide against each other around the fastener. That means the force is not pulling the fastener straight out along its axis. Pulling straight down (along the fastener) is a withdrawal or tension scenario, a different mode of failure that depends on how deeply the fastener is embedded and the material around it. So saying a shear load pulls straight down and is less likely to pull the fastener out isn’t correct. Shear and withdrawal are different failure modes, and the statement mischaracterizes the direction of the force and its effect.