Stress & Strain (AQA A Level Physics)

• Opposite forces can deform an object
• If the forces stretch the object, then they are tensile forces
• Tensile forces lead to the two properties of materials known as tensile stress and tensile strain

Tensile Stress

• Tensile stress is defined as the force exerted per unit cross-sectional area of a material

• Where:
  • σ = tensile stress (Pa)
  • F = force applied (N)
  • A = cross-sectional area (m²)

• The ultimate tensile stress is the maximum force per original cross-sectional area a wire is able to support until it breaks
• σ is the greek letter lower-case 'sigma'
• σ has the units of pascals (Pa), which is the same units as pressure (also force ÷ area)

Tensile Strain

• Strain is the extension per unit length
• This is a deformation of a solid due to stress in the form of elongation or contraction

• Where:
  • ΔL = extension (m)
  • L = original length (m)

• The strain is a dimensionless unit because it’s the ratio of lengths
• Sometimes strain might be written as a percentage
  • For example, extending a 0.1 m wire by 0.005 m would produce a strain of (0.005 ÷ 0.1) × 100 = 5 %

(i) Calculate the tensile stress

Step 1: Write down the tensile stress equation

Tensile stress = Force ÷ Cross-sectional area

Step 2: Calculate the cross-sectional area, A of the wire

• • A wire has a circular cross-sectional area = πr²

  Area = π × (0.2 × 10^-3)² =1.2566 × 10^-7 m²

Step 3: Substitute values in the tensile stress equation

Tensile stress = 50 ÷ (1.2566 × 10^-7) = 397.899 × 10⁶ Pa = 400 MPa

(ii) Calculate the tensile strain

Step 1: Write down the tensile strain equation

Tensile strain = Extension ÷ Original length

Step 2: Determine the extension

• • The extension is total length – the original length

Extension = 4.53 – 4.50 = 0.03 m

Step 3: Substitute values in the tensile strain equation

Tensile strain = 0.03 ÷ 4.50 = 6.7 × 10^-3

• Stress-strain curves describe the properties of materials such as whether they are brittle, ductile and up to what stress and strain they obey Hooke's Law and have elastic and / or plastic behaviour
• Each material will have a unique stress-strain curve

Stress-strain graph for different materials up to their breaking stress

• There are important points on the stress-strain graph, some are similar to the force-extension graph

The important points shown on a stress-strain graph

• The key points that are unique to the stress-strain graph are:
  • Yield Stress: The force per unit area at which the material extends plastically for no / a small increase in stress
  • The elastic strain energy stored per unit volume is the area under the Hooke's Law (straight line) region of the graph
  • Breaking point: The stress at this point is the breaking stress. This is the maximum stress a material can stand before it fractures
  • Elastic region: The region of the graph up till the elastic limit. In this region, the material will return to its original shape when the applied force is removed
  • Plastic region: The region of the graph after the elastic limit. In this region, the material has deformed permanently and will not return to its original shape when the applied force is removed

(i) The breaking stress

Step 1: Define breaking stress

   The breaking stress is the maximum stress a material can stand before it fractures. This is the stress at the final point on the graph

Step 2: Determine breaking stress from the graph

    Draw a line to the y axis at the point of fracture

   The breaking stress is 190 MPa

(ii) The stress at which plastic deformation begins

Step 1: Define plastic formation

    Plastic deformation is when the material is deformed permanently and will not return to its original shape once the applied force is removed. This is shown on the graph where it is curved

Step 2: Determine the stress of where plastic deformation beings on the graph

    Draw a line to the y axis at the point where the graph starts to curve

Plastic deformation begins at a stress of 130 MPa