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Mechanical properties of materials

a. Tensile Strength: - this is the ability of a material to withstand stretching loads with out breaking.
The applied load P is trying to stretch the rod. Therefore the rod is said
to be in tension, so the material from which the rod is made needs to
have sufficient tensile strength to resist the pull of the load.
rod

b. Compressive strength: - this the ability of a material to withstand compressive (squeezing) loads
without being crushed or broken.

This component needs to be made from material with adequate

P compressive strength to resist the load P.

c. Shear strength: - this is the ability of a material to withstand offset loads, or transverse cutting
(shearing actions)
rivet
P
P
P
P
a. A rivet joining two metal bars together. b. Shear failure

Because the loads are not exactly in line, they are said to be off-set and, therefore, the load on the rivet is
called a shearing load, i.e., the rivet is said to be in shear. If the rivet material does not have sufficient shear
strength to resist the loads, the rivet will break (shear off) as shown in fig.b and the loads acting on them
will move apart. The same effect can be caused by loads pushing on the ends of the two metal bars joined
by the rivet.
d. Toughness (impact resistance): - this is the ability of a material to withstand shatter. If a material
shatters it is brittle (eg. Glass). Rubbers and most plastic materials do not shatter, therefore they are tough.

If the spread of surface cracks does not occur or only occurs to small

extent, the material is said to be tough.

e. Rigidity (stiffness): -this is the measure of the ability not to deflect under an applied load.
Eg. Under a light load cast iron deflects less than steel since cast iron is more rigid. But steel is much
stronger than cast iron. Thus a material which is rigid is not necessarily strong.

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 f. Brittleness: -materials that fail in tension at relatively low values of strain (deformation per unit length) are
classified as brittle materials.
g. Elasticity:-the ability of a material to deform under load and return to its original shape and size when the
load is removed.
If it is made from an elastic material it will be the
Same length before and after the load is applied,
despite the fact that it will be longer whilst the
rod rod load is being applied. This is only true for most
materials, if the load is relatively small and within
the elastic range of the material being tested.
P Elastic extension

P
h. Plasticity: -this property is the exact opposite to elasticity. It is the state of a material that has been loaded
beyond the elastic state. Under a load beyond that required to cause elastic deformation the material
deforms permanently. It takes a permanent set and will not return to its original shape and size when the
load is removed.
Ductility and Malleability are particular cases of the property of plasticity.
Example of plasticity
Bending force

Strip before bending force is applied Strip bent beyond the elastic limit so that plastic
deformation occurs.

Since plastic flow has occurred during bending the strip remains bent
after the
bending force has been removed.
 Ductility: -this is the term used when plastic deformation occurs as a result of applying a tension
force. It is property of a material to sustain large strains at fracture.
 Malleability: -this is the term used when plastic deformation occurs as a result of applying a
compressive load. A malleable material is required for processes as rolling and rivet heading.

Example In forming the head of a rivet by hammering the rivet needs

head of rivet to be made from a malleable material to withstand this
treatment.

i. Hardness: -this is defined as the ability of a material to withstand scratching (abrasion) or indentation by
another hard body. It is an indication of the wear resistance of the material.
Example: Contact loads acting on
The figure shows a hardened steel ball being pressed first
hard steel balls.
in to a hard material and then in to a soft material by the
same load.

Hard material Soft material

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The ball only makes a small indentation in the hard material, but it makes a very much deeper indentation in the
softer material. Hardness is often tested in this manner.