strain

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(Top) Volume under compression, (centre) section of wire under tension, (bottom) metal tube under torsion

$Graph showing typical stress-strain curves for brittle, moderately ductile, and ductile rock materials, with X marks indicating fracture points for each type. Axes display stress versus strain, and annotations highlight yield points, permanent deformation, and recoverable regions.$

Figure 5: (A) Extensional strain and (B) simple shear strain, where the element drawn with dashed lines represents the reference configuration, and the element drawn with solid lines represents the deformed configuration.

strain

mechanics

Also known as: internal deformation

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History

strain, in physical sciences and engineering, number that describes relative deformation or change in shape and size of elastic, plastic, and fluid materials under applied forces. The deformation, expressed by strain, arises throughout the material as the particles (molecules, atoms, ions) of which the material is composed are slightly displaced from their normal position. Strains may be divided into normal strains and shear strains on the basis of the forces that cause the deformation. A...

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