CHAPTER 09

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLIDS

FOCUS AREA TOPICS

9.3 STRESS AND STRAIN

9.4 HOOKE’S LAW
9.5 STRESS-STRAIN CURVE

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ELASTICITY
The property of a body, by virtue of which it tends to regain its original size
and shape when the applied deforming force is removed, is known as
elasticity.
STEEL is more elastic than rubber.
PLASTICITY
The inability of a body to regain its original size and shape when the
applied deforming force is removed, is known as plasticity.
Example:Putty,mud,wax.

DEFORMING FORCE:The applied force required to deform a solid.

RESTORING FORCE:The internal force developed within the material in order to
regain the original configuration.
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9.3 STRESS
When forces are applied on a body, it is deformed to a small or large extent depending
upon the nature of the material of the body and the magnitude of the deforming force.
When a body is subjected to a deforming force, a restoring force is developed in the body.
This restoring force is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the applied force.

The restoring force per unit area is known as stress.

If F is the force applied normal to the cross–section and A
is the area of cross section of the body,

Magnitude of the stress = F

A
The SI unit of stress is Nm –2 or pascal (Pa)

and its dimensional formula is [ML–1 T–2 ]

Stress is a tensor (neither scalar nor vector) quantity.

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STRAIN
When a deforming force is applied there may be change in
dimension (length,area,volume,shape......)

STRAIN is a unitless dimensionless quantity

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DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRESS AND STRAIN

a) tensile stress
1. LONGITUDINAL STRESS
b) compressive stress
a) tensile stress :

A cylinder is stretched by two equal forces applied normal to

its cross-sectional area. The restoring force per unit area in
this case is called tensile stress.

b) compressive stress:

If the cylinder is compressed under the action of

applied forces, the restoring force per unit area is
known as compressive stress.

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LONGITUDINAL STRAIN

The ratio of change in length (ΔL) to original length (L) is known as LONGITUDINAL
STRAIN.

LONGITUDINAL STRAIN = ΔL
L

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2. SHEARING STRESS (TANGENTIAL STRESS) & SHEARING STRAIN
When two equal and opposite deforming forces are applied parallel to the cross-
sectional area, there is relative displacement between the opposite faces of the
object. The restoring force per unit area developed due to the applied tangential
force is known as tangential or shearing stress.
SHEARING STRAIN

It is defined as the ratio of relative displacement

of the faces (∆x) to the length of the object (L).

Shearing strain = ∆ x = tan θ

L

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3. VOLUME STRESS (HYDRAULIC STRESS)& VOLUME STRAIN

This stress is developed in the body, when the applied force produces a
change in the volume of the body. In magnitude it is equal to the hydraulic
pressure.

VOLUME STRAIN
It is defined as the ratio of change in volume (∆V) to the original volume (V).

Volume strain = ∆ V
V

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9.4 HOOKE’S LAW

Hooke’s law states that within the elastic limit stress is directly proportional to strain.

Stress α Strain
Stress = K x Strain

Stress
K =
Strain
Where K is known as modulus of elasticity.
If a material obey Hooke’s law, the graph connecting
stress and strain will be a straight line.

Slope of stress-strain graph represent modulus of elasticity.

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9.5 STRESS-STRAIN CURVE

In the region from O to A

The curve is linear. In this region, stress is

proportional to strain, Hooke’s law is obeyed. In
this region the solid behave as an elastic body.

In the region from A to B

Stress and strain are not proportional. Hooke’s

law is not obeyed, but the body is still elastic.
The point B in the curve is known as yield point
or elastic limit. The stress corresponding to yield
point is known as yield strength (σy) of
the material.

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In the region from B to D

The body does not regain its original dimension, when the load is removed.
The material is said to have a permanent set.
The material shows plastic behaviour in this region.
The point D on the graph is the ultimate tensile strength (σu) of the material.
In the region from D to E

Beyond this point D, additional strain is produced even by a reduced applied

force and fracture occurs at point E.
The point E is called fracture point.

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DUCTILE SOLIDS
●
These materials shows large plastic range beyond elastic limit.
●
Fracture point is widely separated from the elastic limit.
Examples: copper, silver, gold, aluminium.

BRITTLE SOLIDS
●
These materials shows very small plastic
range beyond elastic limit.
●
Fracture point lies close to the elastic
limit.
Examples: glass, ceramic.

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ELASTOMERS
●
Materials for which stress-strain graph is not a straight line within elastic limit.
●
Do not obey Hooke’s law.
●
The elastic region is very large.
●
No plastic region.
Examples: Rubber, the elastic tissue of aorta.

(Stress-strain curve for the elastic tissue of Aorta(blood vessel)carrying blood from the heart)

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Expected model questions

(1) The stress-strain graph of two materials A and B

are shown below.
a) State the law which relates stress with strain.
b) Which of the two materials is more elastic ?
c) Which of the two materials is more ductile ?
d)Which of the two materials is more brittle ?

(2) Figure shows stress-strain graph for a given

Material.
a) Find the modulus of elasticity of the material.
b) Find approximate yield strength of the material.

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