ANS:A - 0.5

The correct explanation for the maximum shear stress failure criterion is that yielding in a material occurs when the maximum shear stress is equal to the yield stress. In other words, according to the maximum shear stress theory, yielding takes place when the maximum shear stress acting on the material reaches the yield stress of the material. There is no specific multiplier or factor involved in this criterion. Therefore, the correct answer should be 1 instead of 0.5. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.