Strain Rate

Strain rate measures how quickly a material deforms or changes shape when subjected to stress over time. It quantifies the speed of deformation, indicating whether a material is stretching or flowing rapidly or slowly. Think of it as how fast a material responds to being pulled or pushed. A high strain rate means the material deforms quickly, like rubber stretching rapidly, while a low strain rate indicates a slower change, similar to a stiff metal gradually bending. Understanding strain rate helps predict how materials behave under different loading conditions, especially in engineering, manufacturing, and material science.