Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Page 1 of 3
An example plot of a test on two grades of steel is illustrated above. If one begins at the origin and follows the
graph a number of points are indicated. Point A is known as the proportional limit. Up to this point the
relationship between stress and strain is exactly proportional. The number which describes the relationship
between the two is the Modulus of Elasticity.
Strain increases faster than stress at all points on the curve beyond point A. Up to this point, any steel
speciment that is loaded and unloaded would return to its original length. This is known as elastic behavior.
Point B is the point after which any continued stress results in permanent, or inelastic, deformation. Thus, point
B is known as the elastic limit . Since the stress resistance of the material decreases after the peak of the
curve, this is also known as the yield point.
The line between points C and D indicates the behavior of the steel specimen if it experienced continued
loading to stress indicated as point C. Notice that the dashed line is parallel to the elastic zone of the curve
(between the origin and point A). When the specimen is unloaded the magnitude of the inelastic deformation
would be determined (in this case 0.0725 inches /inch). If the same specimen was to be loaded again, the
stress-strain plot would climb back up the line from D to C and continue along the initial curve. Point E
indicates the location of the value of the ultimate stress. Note that this is quite different from the yield stress. The
yield stress and ultimate stress are the two values that are most often used to determine the allowable loads for
building materials and should never be confused.
A material is considered to have completely failed once it reaches the ultimate stress. The point of rupture, or
the actual tearing of the material, does not occur until point F. It is interesting to note the curve that indicates the
actual stress experienced by the specimen. This curve is different from the apparent stress since the cross
sectional area is actually decreasing. There is quite a bit to be learned from both the study of the ideal and
actual behavior of all building materials. Changes in that body of knowledge have had large impacts on the way
in which building structures are designed.
The earliest methods of design limited the stresses that a structure would be "allowed" to experience. Thus, the
method of design was known as the Allowable Stress Method. Recognition of the additional strength potential
of most materials resulted in the Ultimate Stress Method of design. Contemporary thought centers on the
Page 2 of 3
limitation of the various service conditions of the structure at hand. This is known as the Limit States Design
method. In the end, it is the authors opinion that the actual method of design is less important than the legal
bodies would like us to believe. Human factors in the construction process SHOULD prevent a good designer
from pushing too hard against the envelope of safety.
Page 3 of 3