Stress – Strain

Curve
(2-Physics of Solids)
 A bird’s eye view…
Stress – Strain Curve
Tensile Testing
Proportional Limit
Elastic Limit
Plastic Limit
Ultimate Tensile Strength
Applications
Ductile and Brittle Substances
 Stress – Strain Curve
The curves representing the relationship between
stress and strain in any form of deformation can be
regarded as stress-strain curves.
 Tensile Testing
It is obtained by gradually applying load to a
test coupon and measuring the deformation,
from which the stress and strain can be
determined.
The deformation is measured by a suitable
electronic device fitted in a mechanical testing
machine.
Then, the force-elongation diagram or stress-
strain curve is automatically plotted on X-Y
chart recorder.
 Proportional Limit
It is the greatest stress that a material can endure
without losing straight line proportionality between
stress and strain.
In the initial stage of
deformation, stress is
increased linearly with
the strain, and the
Hook’s law is obeyed in
the region OA.
 Elastic Limit
It is the greatest stress that a material can endure
without being permanently deformed.
When stress is crossed beyond
the proportional limit, the strain
is not proportional to the stress
but, whenever stress is removed,
the body recovers its original
length, size or shape.
This kind of behaviour is called elasticity.
From O to B, the material is said to be elastic.
The point ‘B’ is called Yield Point and the value of stress
at this point is called Yield Stress.
 Plastic Limit
It is the greatest stress that a material can withstand
without being fractured.
When stress is crossed beyond the
elastic limit, the object becomes
permanently deformed and doesn’t
recover it original shape or size.

This kind of behaviour is called plasticity.

From B to C, the material is said to be plastic.
The point ‘C’ represents Ultimate Tensile Strength.
The plastic limit is regarded as Nominal Strength.
 Fracture Strength
The stress at which a specimen fails via fracture
is called fracture stress.
When stress is crossed beyond
the plastic limit, the object starts
to crack and eventually breaks at
point ‘D’. The fracture strength of
any material is given by fracture strength.
The fracture strength is also known as breaking
strength.
 Applications
These curves reveal many of the properties of a
material, such:

Young's modulus

Yield strength

Ultimate Tensile Strength

Ductile & Brittle Materials

 Ductile vs Brittle Substances
Ductile Substances:
The substances which undergo plastic
deformation until they break are called ductile
substances.
Copper, aluminium, gold etc.
Brittle Substances:
The substances which break just after
crossing the elastic limit are called brittle substances.
Glass, cast iron, high carbon steel etc.
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