failure envelope

A failure envelope is a visual or conceptual boundary used in engineering to define the combination of stresses a material or structure can withstand before it fails or breaks. It shows the safe and unsafe stress conditions, helping engineers understand the limits of strength under different forces, such as tension, compression, or shear. Essentially, it maps out the "safe zone" where the material remains intact and the "failure zone" where it would fail, aiding in designing structures that are strong enough to handle real-world loads safely.