This chapter describes the mechanical properties of materials. Some properties of solid materials are strength, elasticity, malleability, and ductility. The ever-growing field of materials engineering is dedicated to studying these properties as well as others.
7.1 STRENGTH
What determines the strength of a material? When a material is stretched, its atoms are pulled apart. When it is compressed, its atoms are pushed together. The electrical forces between the atoms resist this change in length. When the applied force stretching or compressing the material is greater than the electric forces between atoms, then a permanent deformation will occur. A material’s elastic limit is the maximum amount by which it can be ...
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