🏗️ Stress & Strain Calculator

Understanding Stress and Strain

In mechanical engineering, Stress and Strain are the fundamental concepts used to describe how materials respond to external loads. Whether you are designing a bridge or a 3D-printed bracket, understanding these values is critical to preventing failure.

Axial Stress (σ)

Stress represents the internal force distribution within a material. It is measured in Pascals (Pa) or Megapascals (MPa). In axial loading (pulling or pushing), the stress is simply the force divided by the cross-sectional area of the part.

Engineering Strain (ε)

Strain is the measure of deformation. It is a dimensionless ratio comparing the change in length to the original length. For small deformations, strain is directly proportional to stress, a relationship known as Hooke's Law.

Figure 1: Typical Stress-Strain Curve showing the Elastic and Plastic regions.

Key Material Properties

• Elastic Region: The range where the material returns to its original shape after the load is removed.
• Yield Point: The stress level where the material begins to deform permanently (plastic deformation).
• Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS): The maximum stress a material can withstand before failing.
• Young's Modulus (E): A measure of material stiffness. Higher values (like Steel) indicate stiffer materials that resist deformation.

Comparison Table: Common Materials