Tensile strength, also known as breaking strength, is a measure of how much stress a material can withstand before it breaks.

It is necessary to understand how your unique project is affected by the strength of your materials. Here are some things to consider when choosing between aluminum and other metals.

This article will cover:

  1. What is tensile strength?
  2. How is tensile strength measured?
    • Yield strength
    • Ultimate strength
    • Breaking strength
  3. Why is tensile testing important?

What Is Tensile Strength?

To briefly reiterate, tensile strength is the measure of a material’s resistance to breakage. It is one of many characteristics used to determine whether a metal can do the job it is meant to do.

This is a necessary consideration when constructing buildings that incorporate load-bearing metal structures, when crafting tools and appliances, when making shelving and for a number of other scenarios.

How Is Tensile Strength Measured?

The tensile strength of metals is measured by using a special machine to apply a pulling force until the metal breaks. This experiment indicates the maximum load a metal can bear before it fails or becomes permanently damaged.

There are three types of tensile strengths we use to measure the strength of metals: Yield strength, ultimate strength and breaking strength. Consider these measurements when testing how a metal will perform in a specific use-case.