Stress Strain Curve | Stress Strain diagram

To study the behaviour of any material which is subjected to a load, it is possible by relating the stress with strain while gradually increasing the load. the graph between the stress and strain is known as Stress strain Curve. 

Stress strain curve

If we draw a graph between stress and strain while applying a load on a body, the above Stress strain curve represents the behaviour of the body with respect to the applied load. (Take Stress on Y-axis and Strain on X-axis.)

There are two behaviours of the metals, in this case as represented in the above diagram, they are

1. Elastic behavior: the body will get its original shape when the load is removed.
2. Plastic behavior: Permanent deformation happen (No restoring forces).

As the curve is divided into five regions as noted on the curve as shown in the above diagram. They are

O-A: Proportional limit

In the above Stress strain diagram, the curve o-A represents Proportional limit.

It obeys Hook’s law. The stress is directly proportional to strain.

The material will get its original shape when the load is removed.

A-B: Elastic Region

In this region this will not obey Hook’s law, However, the material still elastic in this region.

which means the material can get its original shape when the applied load is removed. but not in a proportional manner.

The point B Is called Elastic limit.

B-C: Yield Stress

Where in stress strain diagram The path B-C represents the yield stress. where the body takes the deformation permanently with no/Little increase in the stress. This stress is called yield stress point.

C-D: Ultimate Stress

From Yield stress point (C) to Ultimate stress point, within a small increase in stress Cause the more deformation.

This is the maximum stress that material has to bear before it going to be brake or fail.

E: Rupture Point/Breaking

If the applied load crosses the Ultimate stress(maximum bearing capacity of the material), with no increase in the stress, the body will fail at this point. This is called breaking point or Rupture point.

See the curve between the D and E,  The stress drops after the point D and at point E this body starts breaking.