Material strength refers to the point on the engineering 

stress–strain curve (yield stress) beyond

which the material experiences deformations that will not be completely reversed upon removal of
the loading and as a result, the member will have a permanent deflection. The ultimate strength of
the material refers to the maximum value of stress reached. The fracture strength is the stress value
at fracture (the last stress value recorded).

Types of loadings[edit]
 Transverse loadings – Forces applied perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a member.
Transverse loading causes the member to bend and deflect from its original position, with
internal tensile and compressive strains accompanying the change in curvature of the member.
[1]
 Transverse loading also induces shear forces that cause shear deformation of the material and
increase the transverse deflection of the member.
 Axial loading – The applied forces are collinear with the longitudinal axis of the member. The
forces cause the member to either stretch or shorten. [2]
 Torsional loading – Twisting act