Normal stress and shear stress Stress acting at a point m on a plane n is a vector, it can be resolved into two components o and t, o is normal to the plane, called normal stress, t is tangential to the plane, called shear stressStress acting at a point m on a plane n is a vector, it can be resolved into two components  and ,  is normal to the plane, called normal stress,  is tangential to the plane, called shear stress. Normal stress and shear stress