Elastic Limit

What is elastic limit?

Elastic limit is defined as the maximum stress that a material can withstand before the permanent deformation. It is the highest limit of the material before plastic deformation of the material can occur. Once the stress or force is removed from the material, the material comes back to its original shape. Elastomers like rubber have the highest elastic limit. The behavior can be explained by Hooke’s law.

Elastic Limit Testing

Elastic limit can be determined by measuring the greatest stress that can be applied to a given sample without causing any permanent deformation. For metals or any other rigid materials have the stress-strain curve as a straight line as the elastic limit is approximately equal to the proportional limit. Materials like rubber and plastic are called an apparent elastic limit as their stress-strain curve is not significantly straight.

What is proportional limit?

Proportional limit is defined as the highest stress at which stress and strain are directly proportional so that the stress-strain graph is a straight line such that the gradient is equal to the elastic modulus of the material. For many metals,the proportional limit is equal to the elastic limit.

Difference between elastic limit and proportional limit

 Elastic limit Proportional limit It is defined as the point up to which the material remains elastic It is defined as the point up to which the stress and the strain are directly proportional

Difference between elastic limit and yield point

Elastic limit and yield point are pretty much the same. But they do have a few differences as follows:

 Elastic limit Yield point Maximum stress the material can withstand before the permanent deformation It is the amount of stress present in the material before the permanent deformation

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