Stress-strain Curve
Engineering Fundamentals · Mechanical Engineering · Materials Engineering · Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A graphical representation of the relationship between stress and strain for a material under loading.
Example in context
“The stress-strain curve for ductile steel shows a distinct yield plateau before strain hardening.”
“Sünek çeliğin gerilme-gerinim eğrisi, deformasyon sertleşmesinden önce belirgin bir akma platosu gösterir.”
Where engineers use it
Engineers use the stress-strain curve to identify material properties such as elastic modulus, yield strength, and ductility; it is essential for material selection and quality control in manufacturing.
Synonyms: stress-strain diagram, tensile curve
In Mechanical Engineering
A graph that shows the relationship between stress applied to a material and the resulting strain. It provides key mechanical properties such as yield point, ultimate strength, and elastic modulus.
“From the stress-strain curve of the aluminum sample, the yield strength was determined to be 280 MPa.”
In Materials Engineering
A graph plotting the stress carried by a specimen against the resulting strain during a mechanical test. Its shape reveals stiffness, yielding, hardening and the point of final fracture.
“Students learn to read the stress-strain curve so they can locate the elastic region, the yield point and the maximum load carrying stress.”
In Civil Engineering
A graphical representation showing the relationship between applied stress and resulting strain in a material. It is used to determine key mechanical properties such as yield strength, ultimate strength, and modulus of elasticity.
“The stress-strain curve of the concrete cylinder exhibited a brittle failure without a distinct yield plateau.”
Practice: can you use “Stress-strain Curve” at work?
A materials engineer is given tensile test data and must determine the Young's modulus and yield point from the stress-strain curve.
Show a model answer
“Plot the stress-strain curve from the tensile test data to evaluate material behavior.”
“Stress-strain Curve” in 21 languages
| English | Stress-strain Curve |
|---|---|
| Turkish | gerilme-gerinim eğrisi |
| French | courbe contrainte-déformation |
| German | Spannungs-Dehnungs-Kurve |
| Spanish | curva tensión-deformación |
| Chinese | 应力-应变曲线 |
| Arabic | منحني الإجهاد-الانفعال |
| Portuguese | curva tensão-deformação |
| Russian | кривая напряжение-деформация |
| Japanese | 応力-ひずみ曲線 |
| Italian | curva sforzo-deformazione |
| Vietnamese | đường cong ứng suất-biến dạng |
| Hindi | प्रतिबल-विकृति वक्र |
| Thai | เส้นความเค้น-ความเครียด |
| Indonesian | kurva tegangan-regangan |
| Korean | 응력-변형률 곡선 |
| Bengali | স্ট্রেস-স্ট্রেন বক্ররেখা |
| Dutch | spanning-rek curve |
| Swedish | spännings-töjningskurva |
| Finnish | jännitys-venymäkäyrä |
| Ukrainian | крива напруження-деформація |
Frequently asked questions
What does Stress-strain Curve mean in engineering?
A graphical representation of the relationship between stress and strain for a material under loading. In Engineering Fundamentals, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Stress-strain Curve?
Stress-strain Curve is pronounced /strɛs streɪn kɜːrv/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Stress-strain Curve used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The stress-strain curve for ductile steel shows a distinct yield plateau before strain hardening.”
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