Stress Strain Curves

7.6. Stress Strain Curves#

Stress is the primary physical quantity that is used to determine whether a structure can withstand the external forces applied to it.

It is not the force that is the limiting factor – it is the amount of stress the material can withstand.

stress strain curve

Material Properties#

The following material properties can be derived from a stress-strain curve.

Stiffness: slope in elastic range

Ductility: total amount of plastic deformation

Yield stress = \(\sigma_y\) = yield strength: transition out of elastic range

Ultimate stress = \(\sigma_{UTS}\) = ultimate strength: highest stress