Elastic Modulus

The elastic modulus is the constant of proportionality between

the stress and the strain.
•  For sufficiently small stresses, the stress is directly
proportional to the stress.
•  It depends on the material being deformed.
•  It also depends on the nature of the deformation.
The elastic modulus, in general, relates what is done to a solid
object to how that object responds.

Various types of deformation have unique elastic moduli.

stress
elastic mod ulus ≡
strain
 Three Types of Moduli
• Young’s Modulus
–  Measures the resistance of a solid to a
change in its length
• Shear Modulus
–  Measures the resistance of motion of the
planes within a solid parallel to each other
• Bulk Modulus
–  Measures the resistance of solids or liquids to
changes in their volume

Section 12.4
Example 3. In our previous example, the stress
applied to the steel wire was 6.37 x 107 Pa and the
strain was 3.08 x 10-4. Find the modulus of elasBcity for
steel.

Stress 6.37 x 107 Pa

L
Modulus = = -4
Strain 3.08 x 10
Modulus = 207 x 109 Pa
ΔL

This longitudinal modulus of elasBcity is called Young’s Modulus and is denoted

by the symbol Y.
 Young’s Modulus
For materials whose length is much greater than the width or thickness, we are
concerned with the longitudinal modulus of elasBcity, or Young’s Modulus (Y).

longitudinal stress
Young ' s modulus =
longitudinal strain

F/A FL lb
Y= = Units : Pa or
ΔL / L A ΔL in.2
Example 4: Young’s modulus for brass
is 8.96 x 1011Pa. A 120-N weight is
aTached to an 8-m length of brass 8 m

wire; find the increase in length. The

diameter is 1.5 mm.
ΔL
120 N

First find area of wire:

2 2
π D π (0.0015 m) A = 1.77 x 10-6 m2
A= =
4 4
FL FL
Y= or ΔL =
AΔL AY
 Example 4: (ConBnued)
Y = 8.96 x 1011 Pa; F = 120 N;
8 m
L = 8 m; A = 1.77 x 10-6 m2
F = 120 N; ΔL = ?

ΔL
FL FL 120 N
Y= or ΔL =
AΔL AY
FL (120 N)(8.00 m)
ΔL = = -6 2 11
AY (1.77 x 10 m )(8.96 x 10 Pa)

Increase in length: ΔL = 0.605 mm

 Shear Modulus
A shearing stress alters only the shape of the body, leaving the volume
unchanged. For example, consider equal and opposite shearing forces F acting
on the cube below:

A
d

F
l φ
F

φ
The shearing force F produces a shearing angle . The angle φ is the
strain and the stress is given by F/A as before.
 CalculaBng Shear Modulus
d A
Stress is force
F per unit area: F
F l φ
Stress =
A
The strain is the angle expressed d
in radians: Strain = φ =
l
The shear modulus S is defined as the raBo of the shearing stress F/A to the shearing
φ
strain :

The shear modulus: Units are in F A

Pascals. S=
φ
 Example 5. A steel stud (S = 8.27 x 1010Pa) 1 cm in
diameter projects 4 cm from the wall. A 36,000 N
shearing force is applied to the end. What is the
defecBon d of the stud?
2 2
πD π (0.01 m)
l A= =
d 4 4
Area: A = 7.85 x 10-5 m2
F

F A F A Fl Fl
S= = = ; d=
φ d l Ad AS
(36, 000 N)(0.04 m) d = 0.222 mm
d= -5 2 10
(7.85 x 10 m )(8.27 x 10 Pa)
 Volume ElasBcity
Not all deformaBons are linear. SomeBmes an applied stress F/A results in a
decrease of volume. In such cases, there is a bulk modulus B of elasBcity.

Volume stress − F A
B= =
Volume strain ΔV V

The bulk modulus is negaBve because of decrease in V.

 The Bulk Modulus
Volume stress − F A
B= =
Volume strain ΔV V

Since F/A is generally pressure P, we may write:

−P − PV
B= =
ΔV / V ΔV
Units remain in Pascals (Pa) since the strain is
unitless.
 Example 7. A hydrostaBc press contains 5 liters of
oil. Find the decrease in volume of the oil if it is
subjected to a pressure of 3000 kPa. (Assume that
B = 1700 MPa.)
−P − PV
B= =
ΔV / V ΔV
6
− PV −(3 x 10 Pa)(5 L)
ΔV = = 9
B (1.70 x 10 Pa)
Decrease in V; milliliters
(mL): ΔV = -8.82 mL
Poisson’s Ra*o

Energy restored in an object:

 Summary: ElasBc and InelasBc
An elas*c body is one that returns to its original shape aber a deformaBon.

An elastic collision loses no energy. The deform-ation on collision is fully

restored.

An inelas*c body is one that does not return to its original shape aber a
deformaBon.

In an inelastic collision, energy is lost and the deformation may be

permanent.
 Summary
Types of Stress F

A tensile stress occurs when equal and opposite

forces are directed away from each other.
W
Tension

A compressive stress occurs when equal and

opposite forces are directed toward each W
other.
F

Compression
 Summary of DefiniBons
Stress is the raBo of an applied force F to the area A over which it acts:

F N lb
Stress = Units : Pa = 2 or 2
A m in.
Strain is the relaBve change in the dimensions or shape of a body as the
result of an applied stress:

Examples: Change in length per unit length; change in volume

per unit volume.
 Longitudinal Stress and Strain
For wires, rods, and bars, there is a
longitudinal stress F/A that produces a
change in length per unit length. In such
L A cases:
F
A

ΔL

F ΔL
Stress = Strain =
A L
 The Elastic Limit
The elasBc limit is the maximum stress a body can experience without becoming
permanently deformed.

The Ultimate Strength

The ulBmate strength is the greatest stress a body can experience without breaking
or rupturing.
 Young’s Modulus
For materials whose length is much greater than the width or thickness, we are
concerned with the longitudinal modulus of elasBcity, or Young’s Modulus Y.

longitudinal stress
Young ' s modulus =
longitudinal strain

F/A FL lb
Y= = Units : Pa or
ΔL / L A ΔL in.2
 The Shear Modulus
d A
Stress is force
F per unit area: F
F l φ
Stress =
A
The strain is the angle expressed d
in radians: Strain = φ =
l
The shear modulus S is defined as the raBo of the shearing stress F/A to the shearing
φ
strain :

The shear modulus: Units are in F A

Pascals. S=
φ
 The Bulk Modulus
Volume stress − F A
B= =
Volume strain ΔV V

Since F/A is generally pressure P, we may write:

−P − PV
B= =
ΔV / V ΔV
Units remain in Pascals (Pa) since the strain is
unitless.