| Tensile Strength |
This is the ability of a material to withstand tensile loads without rupture when the material is in tension |
| Compressive Strength |
This is the ability of a material to withstand Compressive (squeezing) loads without being crushed when the material is in compression . |
| Shear Strength |
This is the ability of a material to withstand offset or traverse loads without rupture occurring . |
| Toughness |
This is the ability of a material to withstand shatter. A material which easily shatters is brittle. Toughness indicates the ability of a material to absorb energy |
| Elasticity |
This is the ability of a material to deform under load and return to its original size and shape when the load is removed. The property is required for springs |
| Plasticity |
This is the property of a material to deform permanently under the application of a load. Plastacine is plastic. This is the exact opposite to elasticity. |
| Ductility |
This is ability of a material to stretch under the application of tensile load and retain the deformed shape on the removal of the load. A ductile material combines the properties of plasticiy and tensile strength. All materials which are formed by drawing are required to be ductile |
| Malleability |
This is the property of a material to deform permanently under the application of a compressive load. A material which is forged to its final shape is required to be malleable |
| Fatigue Strength |
This is the property of a material to withstand continuously varying and alternating loads
Fatigue Information Link |
| Hardness |
This is the property of a material to withstand indentation and surface abrasion by another hard object. It is an indication of the wear resistance of a material.e.g Diamonds are very hard. Information on hardness measurement is found on page |