One of the most critical physical properties of metals is their yield strength. It determines how a material behaves under stress. But for any technical person involved in the manufacturing industry, it is important to know about it, and why is yield strength so important? This article will explore and compare the yield strength of a few of the most popular materials in the industry.
In simple terms, yield strength is the maximum amount of stress a material can endure without undergoing permanent deformation. When a material is stressed within its elastic range, it can return to its original shape once the stress is removed. However, once the stress exceeds the yield strength, the material will deform plastically, meaning the changes to its shape will be permanent.
For example, consider a metal rod being pulled at both ends. Initially, the rod stretches but will snap back to its original size when the force is released. If you pull too hard and exceed its yield strength, the rod will elongate permanently and will not return to its original shape.
