RTO AMVI MAIN Exam – STRENGHT OF MATERIAL Page | 1

STRENGHT OF MATERIALS

Elastic Constants:

Linear Strain:
The strain in the direction of applied force is known as linear strain, longitudinal
strain, primary strain or simply strain. It is denoted by ‘e’.

δL
Linear strain e . =
L
Lateral Strain:
Strain in a direction at right angles to the direction of applied force is known as
lateral strain or secondary strain.

Change in lateral dimension

Lateral strain =
Original lateral dimension
For a rectangular bar:
δb δt
Linear strain = OR
b t
Where δb = Change in width and
b = Original width
δt = Change in thickness and
t = Original thickness
For a circular bar:-
δd
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 =
d
δd = Change in diameter,
d = Original diameter
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Poisson's Ratio:
When a homogeneous material is loaded within its elastic limit the ratio of the
lateral strain to the linear strain is constant and is known as Poisson's ratio. It is denoted by
p or m
The value of Poisson's ratio varies from 0.1 to 0.5. The extreme low value, 0.1 is for concrete
and high value of 0.5 is for rubber. [For most metals value of m lies between 3 and 4 i.e. g
1 1
lies between 3 to 4 i.e. 0.33 to 0.25.
Lateral strain
Poisson′ s ratio =
Linear strain

1 Lateral strain
µ or =
m e
1
Lateral strain = µ x e or x e
m
Consider a metallic bar of length L, width b and thickness t subjected to an axial
tensile force P. Due to tensile load P, the length of the bar increases by amount δL. This
increase in length is associated with the decrease in lateral sides b and t. Therefore, the
linear strain is positive and the lateral strains are negative.
In this case,
+δL
𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 =
L
−δb −δt
𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 = =
b t
The linear strain e is positive and the lateral strains are negative
Lateral strain = −µ x e

Modulus of Elasticity (E):

When the body is loaded within its elastic limit, the ratio of stress and strain is
constant. This constant is known as Modulus of Elasticity or Young Modulus.
Stress 𝜎
E = =
Strain 𝜖
SI. Unit of Young's modulus is same as that of stress i.e. N/m2 or Pascal
RTO AMVI MAIN Exam – STRENGHT OF MATERIAL Page | 3

Shear modulus or modulus of rigidity (G):

When a body is loaded within its elastic limit, the ratio of shear stress and shear
strain is constant, this constant is known as shear modulus or modulus of rigidity.
Mathematically,
Shear stress
Shear modulus =
Shear strain
q
G=
ϕ
SI. Unit :
S.I unit of G is same as that of stress i.e. N/m2 or Pascal.

Relation between modulus of rigidity and modulus of elasticity:

E = 2 G (1 + µ)
Where,
E = Modulus of elasticity
G = Modulus of rigidity and
µ = Poisson's ratio.
Young's modulus (E), bulk modulus (K) and shear modulus (G) are known as Elastic
Constants.