Stress-Strain Curve

The Stress and Strain curve provides the relation between stress and strain and the material’s
stress behavior with an increase in strain. In material science and mechanical engineering, the
stress-strain curve is widely used to understand the strength, deformation, and failure criteria
of any material.

Stress-Strain Curves for Ductile Materials If a ductile bar of uniform cross-sectional area is
subjected to gradually increasing axial tensile force (generally is done in Universal Testing
Machine) till failure of the bar.

Portion OA: This portion is absolutely straight, where the stress is proportional to strain and
the material obeys Hooke’s law (σ =E ϵ). The value of stress at point A is called proportional
limit.

Portion AB: In this portion, Hook’s law is not obeyed, although the material may still be
elastic. The point B indicates the elastic limit.

Portion BC: In this portion, the metal shows a strain even without increase in stress and the
strain is not fully return when load is removed.

Portion CD: Yielding start in this portion and there is a drop of stress at the point D directly
after yielding begins at C. The point D is termed as lower yield point and C is called upper
yield point.

Portion DE: After yielding has taken place at D, further straining takes place at this portion by
increasing the stress and the stress–strain curve continues to rise up to the point E. Strain in
this portion is about 100 times that of portion O-A. At the point E, the bar begins to form a
local neck. The point E is termed as ultimate tensile stress point.
Portion EF: In this portion, the load is falling off from the maximum and fracture at F takes
place. The point F is termed as fracture or breaking point and the identical stress is called
breaking stress.

The Stress-Strain curve is plotted during the tensile test of a test specimen inside the
Universal Testing Machine (UTM). In that instrument, the force on the standard specimen is
increased till its failure and a plotter keeps recording the stress and strain.

Yield Strength:

The Yield Strength of a material is the maximum stress after which the elongation becomes
plastic and permanent deformation starts. Once the yield strength of a material is reached,
large deformation occurs with very little increase in the applied load. The material will regain
its shape once the stress is removed if the yield point is not reached.

In the stress-strain curve, yield strength is the point from where the stress deviates its
proportionality to strain. For a few materials, the yield strength in the stress-strain curve is
distinct but for a few others, it is not. Hence, a concept of proof stress is used to denote the
yield strength in the stress & strain curve for those materials. Proof Stress is indicated by
drawing a parallel line to the linear portion of the stress-strain curve at a strain value of 0.002
(or 2%).
Ultimate Tensile Strength:

The ultimate tensile strength or tensile strength of a material is the maximum stress value of
the stress-strain curve. This is the maximum stress value for any material before final failure.
In the stress-strain curve, the ultimate tensile strength can be decided accurately for all types
of materials.

Young’s Modulus:

Young’s modulus is defined as the ratio of stress to strain. It is a measure of the stiffness of
an elastic material. it is the slope of the line in the straight part of the stress-strain curve.

Stiffness (Rigidity): The resistance of a material to deflection is called stiffness or rigidity.

Importance of Stress-Strain Curve

The stress-strain curve of material provides engineers with a long list of mechanical
properties needed for engineering design. The capacity of a material to withstand loads prior
to fracture is obtained from the stress-strain curve. The allowable material stress values are
normally decided from the yield strength value for ductile materials and from the tensile
strength value for brittle materials. The curve also provides a rough estimate of its
deformation under loading conditions.

The stress-strain curve also helps in fabrication processes like extrusion, bending, rolling, etc.
From the curve, the amount of force required for plastic deformation can be calculated.

 the stress-strain curves in tension and compression for all materials are different. The
stress-strain behavior (curve shape) may be similar but stress values differ
considerably.
 the stress-strain curve at room temperature is different from the same curve at other
temperatures.
cold working and hot working

The technical definitions of both hot and cold work refer to the recrystallization temperature
of the metal.
Hot working: occurs when metal is deformed above its recrystallization temperature.
cold working: occurs when metal is deformed below the recrystallization temperature.

Hot work Cold work

- more deformation - less deformation
- more ductility - less ductility
- min hardness & strength - more hardness & strength

Recrystallization is defined as the process in which grains of a crystal structure come in a new structure
or new crystal shape

1- Young’s modulus is defined by:

A- Stress / Strain.

B- Extension /Original Length.

C- Load / Elongation

D- Hardness factors

2-Within the limit of elasticity which one of the following is applicable:

A- Yielding occurs

B- Work hardening takes place

C- Load per unit area is proportional to change in length /original length

D- stress is proportional to strain

E- Both C and D

3- Beyond the limit of elasticity for a ductile material the:

A- The ultimate stress increases

B- Work hardening takes place

C- Strain increases considerably for small change in stress

D- both B and C are correct

E- None of the above is correct

4- For which type of material the proof stress is applicable:

A- Ductile materials showing clear upper and lower yield point

B- For brittle material where it is not easy to calculate the yield stress

C- Applicable to all nonmetals to find the limit of elasticity

D- All of the above.

6-Stress applied when directly proportional to increase or decrease in length are:

A- Elastic deformation

B- Plastic flow.

C- Creep.

D -Yielding.

7- cold rolling of plate during mill rolling, along the rolling direction ductility will:

A- Increase

B- Decrease

C- Be unaffected.

D- None of the above.

8-cold work is done below:

A- Automatization

B- Recrystallization

C- critical temperature
D- yield point

9- How material shows hardening deformation at room temperature:

A- by heat treatment

B- By cold work.

C- Annealing

D- Martempering.