Stress Strain Problem: Finding the Final Length

  • Thread starter Thread starter Saladsamurai
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Strain Stress
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a stress-strain problem related to calculating the final length of a material after stress is applied and then removed. Participants explore the concepts of elastic and plastic strain, and how they contribute to the total strain and final length of the material.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a calculation for the final length based on elastic and plastic strains, expressing confusion over discrepancies in their result compared to the expected answer.
  • Another participant suggests first calculating the length with total load applied, then finding the elastic recovery length to subtract from the total.
  • A participant questions the difference between adding plastic elongation to the original length and subtracting elastic elongation from the final length.
  • One participant points out a misunderstanding regarding the interpretation of plastic strain, indicating that it should not be treated as a proportion in the context of the calculations.
  • Another participant clarifies that strain is defined as the change in length divided by the original length, suggesting that multiplying strain by change in length is not meaningful.
  • A participant proposes a revised equation for the final length that incorporates the proportion of plastic strain relative to total strain.
  • There is a discussion about the total change in length being calculated as the product of total strain and original length.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct approach to calculating the final length, with no consensus reached on the method or interpretation of strain. Some participants challenge earlier claims and refine their understanding, but disagreements persist regarding the calculations and definitions involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants exhibit confusion over the definitions and relationships between elastic and plastic strains, as well as how to properly apply these concepts in calculations. There are unresolved issues regarding the interpretation of terms and the mathematical steps necessary for the problem.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students studying material science or mechanics of materials, particularly those grappling with concepts of stress, strain, and their applications in problem-solving.

Saladsamurai
Messages
3,009
Reaction score
7
HELP! Stress Strain Question

Homework Statement



In part (a) of the problem, we found that due to a certain stress, the amount of

elastic strain that a material undergoes is
\epsilon_E=.0087

and the amount of plastic strain is
\epsilon_{pl}=.0113.

The total strain is therefore
\epsilon_T=.02We are then told that a sample of this material with original length
l_o=610 \ mm undergoes that same stress involved in part (a).

What is the new length l_fafter the stress is removed ?So I believe the idea behind this is that we gain the elastic portion of the strain back, but the plastic elongation should be added onto the original length.

I wrote this quantitatively as:

l_f=l_0+\epsilon_{pl}\Delta l (1)

To find the change in length we have:

\epsilon_T=\frac{\Delta l}{l_0} \Rightarrow \Delta l=\epsilon_Tl_0 (2)

Therefore (1) becomes:

l_f=l_0+\epsilon_{pl}(\epsilon_Tl_0)

\Rightarrow l_f=l_0(1+\epsilon_T\epsilon_{pl})

Plugging in numbers we have lf=.6101 mm

but the correct answer is .6167 which is waayyy off.

What am I missing here?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org


First find the length when the total load is applied (i.e., the length incorporating elastic and plastic strain). Then find the length change associated with elastic recovery of this sample, and subtract this.
 


I will try that. But how is that different? What concept am I missing here? I do not see the difference between adding the plastic elongation to the initial length and subtracting the elastic elongation from the final length.
 


The mistake you made originally was taking \epsilon_{pl} as the proportion of plastic strain, rather than the amount of plastic strain. The product \epsilon_T\epsilon_{pl} doesn't have any meaning in this problem.

Personally, I think an answer of l_f=l_0(1+\epsilon_{pl})=0.6169[/tex] is good enough and simpler. But the approach I described gets you to .6167 (actually .616786), so perhaps it's the approach intended by the person who wrote the problem.
 


Mapes said:
The mistake you made originally was taking \epsilon_{pl} as the proportion of plastic strain, rather than the amount of plastic strain.

I don't understand this statement?

It was given that this was the plastic strain:confused:

Edit: hold on... let me think...
 


Nope... I still don't understand. If by definition strain is \epsilon_T=\frac{\Delta l}{l_0} then isn't it by definition a proportion?

i.e., percent change in length.
 


In your equation (1) you've multiplied strain by change in length. This doesn't mean anything; strain is already change in length divided by original length. The term \epsilon\Delta L just isn't useful or meaningful here.

However, you could calculate that

\epsilon_{pl}/ \epsilon_T=\epsilon_{pl}/(\epsilon_{pl}+\epsilon_{E})=56.5%

of the total strain is plastic, and multiply this percentage by the total change in length to get the plastic change in length. That's what I meant by the proportion of plastic strain.
 


Okay. I kind of follow you now. But what is the total change in length is it not \epsilon_{tot}*l_o ?

So my original (1) should have been:

l_f=l_0(1+\frac{\epsilon_{pl}}{\epsilon_{tot}})

arrgggg goddamn Latex
 


Saladsamurai said:
Okay. I kind of follow you now. But what is the total change in length is it not \epsilon_{tot}*l_o ?

Yes, that's the total change in length. Did I say something different?
 
  • #10


I don't know :smile: Perhaps I did! I hate this class! Thanks for the help!
 
  • #11


Just keep at it and soon it'll seem easy. Good luck.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
30K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
39
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
7K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K