This paper addresses the question, “Are the stress vs strain or modulus characteristics of various generic sealants the same in shear as they are in tension?”

The ASTM tests and Federal Specifications for sealants address the joint movement ability of sealants when they are stressed in tension and compression. Nowhere does a test or specification relate to the movement ability in shear directions. Many joints are made of dissimilar materials so that with temperature changes these materials change dimension by differing amounts. Also, some joints are stressed as one substrate moves in or out of the plane of the wall or floor. The above mentioned cases are examples of shear movement. The authors stressed a variety of different generic sealants in the tension mode as well as the two shear modes (longitudinal and transverse). They show the relationship of the tension movement to the shear movements for sealants from each of the generic types.