The discussion clarifies the distinction between force-elongation (commonly referred to as load-displacement) and stress-strain diagrams. Stress is defined as the force divided by the cross-sectional area, while strain is the ratio of change in elongation to the initial elongation. Modern tensile test machines utilize digital instrumentation to automatically calculate stress and strain from measured load and displacement. The conversation also includes references to various online resources for further understanding of these concepts.
PREREQUISITESEngineers, material scientists, and students in mechanical or civil engineering who are looking to deepen their understanding of material behavior under stress and the interpretation of related diagrams.