Normal Stress 2 : That stress component perpendicular to a given plane. If you lean against a door after you close it, you are applying normal stress to the door. See also: shear stress
Natural and Environmental Disaster Information Exchange System NEDIES, European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC), Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC), Ispra (Varese) Italy, http://nedies.jrc.it/index.asp?ID=82#Top, ScienceMaster, physical Science, Earthquake Glossary, CA, USA 2010. http://www.sciencemaster.com/physical/item/earthqu ake_glossary.php, (ND/ Erthq - Amer) {161}