Metal Tidbits, Tensile Strength

The term tensile strength refers to the amount of tensile (stretching) stress a material can withstand before breaking or failing. The ultimate tensile strength of a material is calculated by dividing the area of the material tested (the cross section) by the stress placed on the material, generally expressed in terms of pounds or tons per square inch of material. Tensile strength is an important measure of a material's ability to perform in an application, and the measurement is widely used when describing the properties of metals and alloys.

The tensile strength of an alloy is most commonly measured by placing a test piece in the jaws of a tensile machine. The tensile machine applies stretching stress by gradually separating the jaws. The amount of stretching needed to break the test piece is then measured and recorded. The yield strength of metals may also be measured. Yield strength refers to the amount of stress a material can withstand without permanent deformation.

All Metals & Forge (AM&F) is a steel service center with a custom forging facility that supplies specialty metals and steels to a wide variety of industries. The company keeps a huge amount of billet material in stock in a wide variety of grades, and carries alloys that are typically hard to find elsewhere. Types of alloys supplied include stainless steel in PH grades, 300, 400, and 500 series stainless steels, tool steels, and super alloys.

For more information on AM&F's many services or to request a quote, please call (973) 276-5000, or send an email to info@steelforge.com. You are also encouraged to browse this site for additional information on metallurgy and the steel industry.

Top

Steel has a relatively great amount of tensile strength compared to other substances, such as concrete, which possess a great amount of compressive strength but little tensile strength. In general, the tensile strength of steel is equivalent to its compressive strength. That is, steel responds to stretching force in much the same way it responds to crushing force, although the possibility of shearing forces must be taken into account when steel is subjected to compression loads.

The tensile strength of steel is often measured in pounds per square inch, or in thousands of pounds per square inch. The tensile strength of a steel that can withstand 40,000 pounds of force per square inch may be expressed as 40,000 PSI or 40 KSI (with K being the denominator for thousands of pounds). In addition to ultimate tensile strength, the yield stress of steel may also be measured--that is, the amount of stretching force that may be applied to a steel before it permanently deforms.

Steels and other alloys vary considerably in their tensile strength. Aluminum, nickel, and high carbon steels often have high tensile strength. Tensile strength, of course, is only one of the salient properties of a metal used in an application. A variety of other factors such as heat tolerance, corrosion resistance, hardness, weldability, and more play a role in choosing the correct alloy for an application.

As a leading steel service center, All Metals & Forge (AM&F) carries a wide variety of standard and specialty metals for all types of applications, and has a custom forging facility. Please browse this website for additional information on metallurgy and the AM&F product line. You may also call (973) 276-5000, or send an email to info@steelforge.com for more information on AM&F's many services or to request a quote.

Top

To Send a Request for Quote, please Click Here, call 973.276.5000, or fax (973) 276 - 5050