Mech prop pt 1

Anelastic (viscoelastic) material A material in which the total strain developed has
elastic and viscous components. Part of the total strain recovers similar to elastic
strain. Some part, though, recovers over a period of time. Examples of viscoelastic
materials include polymer melts and many polymers including Silly Putty.
Typically, the term anelastic is used for metallic materials.
Apparent viscosity Viscosity obtained by dividing shear stress by the
corresponding value of the shear-strain rate for that stress.
Bend test Application of a force to a bar that is supported on each end to determine
the resistance of the material to a static or slowly applied load. Typically used for
brittle materials.
Bingham plastic A material with a mechanical response given by when and when.
Dilatant (shear thickening) Materials in which the apparent viscosity increases
with increasing rate of shear.
Ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) the temperature below which a
material behaves in a brittle manner in an impact test; it also depends on the strain
rate.
Ductility The ability of a material to be permanently deformed without breaking
when a force is applied.
Elastic deformation Deformation of the material that is recovered instantaneously
when the applied load is removed.
Elastic limit The magnitude of stress at which plastic deformation commences.
Elastic strain Fully and instantaneously recoverable strain in a material.
Elastomers Natural or synthetic plastics that are composed of molecules with
spring-like coils that lead to large elastic deformations (e.g., natural rubber,
silicones).
Engineering strain Elongation per unit length calculated using the original
dimensions.
Engineering stress The applied load, or force, divided by the original area over
which the load acts.
Extensometer An instrument to measure change in length of a tensile specimen,
thus allowing calculation of strain. An extensometer is often a clip that attaches to a
sample and elastically deforms to measure the length change.
Flexural modulus The modulus of elasticity calculated from the results of a bend
test; it is proportional to the slope of the stress-deflection curve.
Flexural strength (modulus of rupture) The stress required to fracture a specimen
in a bend test.
Fracture toughness The resistance of a material to failure in the presence of a flaw.
Glass-transition temperature (Tg) A temperature below which an otherwise
ductile material behaves as if it is brittle. Usually, this temperature is not fixed and
is affected by processing of the material.
Hardness test Measures the resistance of a material to penetration by a sharp object.
Common hardness tests include the Brinell test, Rockwell test, Knoop test, and
Vickers test.
Hookes law The linear-relationship between stress and strain in the elastic portion
of the stress train curve.
Impact energy The energy required to fracture a standard specimen when the load
is applied suddenly.
Impact loading Application of stress at a very high strain rate.
Impact test Measures the ability of a material to absorb the sudden application of a
load without breaking. The Charpy and Izod tests are commonly used impact tests.
Impact toughness Energy absorbed by a material, usually notched, during fracture,
under the conditions of the impact test.
Kinematic viscosity Ratio of viscosity and density, often expressed in centiStokes.
Load The force applied to a material during testing.
Macrohardness Bulk hardness of materials measured using loads _ 2 N.
Materials processing Manufacturing or fabrication methods used for shaping of
materials (e.g., extrusion, forging).
Microhardness Hardness of materials typically measured using loads less than 2 N
with a test such as the Knoop (HK).
Modulus of elasticity (E) Youngs modulus, or the slope of the linear part of the
stressstrain curve in the elastic region. It is a measure of the stiffness of the bonds
of a material and is not strongly dependent upon microstructure.
Modulus of resilience (Er) The maximum elastic energy absorbed by a material
when a load is applied.
Nanoindentation Hardness testing performed at the nanometer length scale. The
imposed load and displacement are measured with micro-Newton and subnanometer resolution, respectively.
Necking Local deformation causing a reduction in the cross-sectional area of a
tensile specimen. Many ductile materials show this behavior. The engineering stress
begins to decrease at the onset of necking.
Newtonian Materials in which the shear stress and shear strain rate are linearly
related (e.g., light Oil or water).
Non-Newtonian Materials in which the shear stress and shear strain rate are not
linearly related; these materials are shear thinning or shear thickening (e.g., polymer
melts, slurries, paints, etc.).
Notch sensitivity Measures the effect of a notch, scratch, or other imperfection on a
materials properties such as toughness or fatigue life.
Offset strain value A value of strain (e.g., 0.002) used to obtain the offset yield
stress.

Offset yield strength A stress value obtained graphically that describes the stress
that gives no more than a specified amount of plastic deformation. Most useful for
designing components. Also, simply stated as the yield strength.
Percent elongation The total percentage permanent increase in the length of a
specimen due to a tensile test.
Percent reduction in area The total percentage permanent decrease in the crosssectional area of a specimen due to a tensile test.
Plastic deformation or strain Permanent deformation of a material when a load is
applied, then removed.
Poissons ratio The negative of the ratio between the lateral and longitudinal strains
in the elastic region.
Proportional limit A level of stress above which the relationship between stress
and strain is not linear.
Pseudoplastics (shear thinning) Materials in which the apparent viscosity
decreases with increasing rate of shear.
Rheopectic behavior Materials that show shear thickening and also an apparent
viscosity that at a constant rate of shear increases with time.
Shear modulus (G) The slope of the linear part of the shear stress-shear strain
curve.
Shear-strain rate Time derivative of shear strain. See Strain rate.
Shear thickening (dilatant) Materials in which the apparent viscosity increases
with increasing rate of shear.
Shear thinning (pseudoplastics) Materials in which the apparent viscosity
decreases with increasing rate of shear.
Stiffness A measure of a materials resistance to elastic deformation. Stiffness is the
slope of a load-displacement curve and is proportional to the elastic modulus.
Stiffness depends on the geometry
of the component under consideration, whereas the elastic or Youngs modulus is a
materials property. The inverse of stiffness is known as compliance.
Strain Elongation per unit length.
Strain gage A device used for measuring strain. A strain gage typically consists of a
fine wire embedded in a polymer matrix. The strain gage is bonded to the test
specimen and deforms as the specimen deforms. As the wire in the strain gage
deforms, its resistance changes. The resistance change is directly proportional to the
strain.
Strain rate The rate at which strain develops in or is applied to a material indicated;
it is represented by or for tensile and shear-strain rates, respectively. Strain rate can
have an effect on whether a material behaves in a ductile or brittle fashion.
Stress Force per unit area over which the force is acting.
Stress relaxation Decrease in stress for a material held under constant strain as a
function of time, which is observed in viscoelastic materials. Stress relaxation is
different from time dependent recovery of strain.
Tensile strength The stress that corresponds to the maximum load in a tensile test.
Tensile test Measures the response of a material to a slowly applied uniaxial force.
The yield strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and ductility are obtained.
Tensile toughness The area under the true stresstrue strain tensile test curve. It is a
measure of the energy required to cause fracture under tensile test conditions.
Thixotropic behavior Materials that show shear thinning and also an apparent
viscosity that at a constant rate of shear decreases with time.
True strain Elongation per unit length calculated using the instantaneous
dimensions.
True stress The load divided by the instantaneous area over which the load acts.
Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) See Tensile strength.
Viscoelastic (or anelastic) material See Anelastic material.
Viscosity (_) Measure of the resistance to flow, defined as the ratio of shear stress to
shear strain rate (units Poise or Pa-s).
Viscous material A viscous material is one in which the strain develops over a
period of time and the material does not return to its original shape after the stress is
removed.
Work of fracture Area under the stressstrain curve, considered as a measure of
tensile toughness.
Yield point phenomenon An abrupt transition, seen in some materials, from elastic
deformation to plastic flow.
Yield strength A stress value obtained graphically that describes no more than a
specified amount of deformation (usually 0.002). Also known as the offset yield
strength.
Youngs modulus (E ) The slope of the linear part of the stressstrain curve in the
elastic region,
same as modulus of elasticity.