Strain Definition

Whenever forces are applied such that they cause stress in the material. These forces bring changes in the dimension of the object. Strain is the ratio of change in dimension to the original dimension.  For example, if a cylinder is kept under some stress and causes it to deform accordingly, then the ratio of change in the dimension of the cylinder is whether it is along the axis or parallel to the axis to its original dimension here is strain.

Stain can be classified based upon the acting up stress in three types, such as:

  • Tensile Strain
  • Shearing Strain
  • Hydraulic Strain

Tensile Strain

In the case of compressive or tensile stress, the length of the cylinder is changed. Let ΔL be the change in length of the cylinder and L be the original length. This is called longitudinal strain. It is given by, 

Longitudinal Strain = ΔL/L

Shearing Strain

In the case of shearing stress, the object deforms in a shearing or a sliding which can be measured in the form of an angle from the original dimension. Thus Shearing Strain is given as follows:

Shearing Strain = Δθ/θ

Here, θ is the angular displacement of the cylinder from its mean position

Hydraulic Strain

When hydraulic stress is applied, the body changes its volume. In this case, volumetric strain is used and is given by:

Volumetric Strain = -ΔV/V

Stress-Strain Curve

Stress-Strain Curve is a very crucial concept in the study of material science and engineering. It describes the relationship between stress and the strain applied on an object. We know that stress is the applied force on the material, and strain, is the resulting change (deformation or elongation) in the shape of the object. For example, when force (stress) is applied to the spring, its length changes under that stress. But as stress is removed, spring came to its initial position.

Stress-Strain curve provides insights into the different materials under different levels of stress. This can help engineers design more efficient and strong structures. In this article, we will learn about, stress, strain, and the relationship between them and others in detail.

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