MSE 2001 Physical Properties

density

mass per unit volume of a material

elastic modulus

the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic (reversible) deformation region (aka stiffness)

yield strength

the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically (permanently) instead of elastically

modulus of resilience

the amount of elastic strain energy a material can absorb, per unit volume, up to its yield point without permanent deformation

fracture toughness

a material’s resistance to crack propagation and catastrophic failure in the presence of a flaw

hardness

a material’s resistance to localized plastic deformation, such as indentation or scratching

ductility

a material’s ability to undergo plastic deformation (e.g. stretching into a wire) before fracturing

Poisson’s ratio

the negative ratio of transverse (lateral) strain to axial (longitudinal) strain when a material is stretched or compressed elastically

coefficient of friction

a dimensionless value representing the ratio of frictional force between two surfaces to the normal force pushing them together