Strain-stress relationship

The strain-stress relationship describes how a material responds when a force is applied to it. Stress is the force per unit area exerted on the material, while strain is the material's deformation or stretch relative to its original size. Initially, many materials stretch proportionally to the applied stress, a phase called elastic deformation, where they return to their original shape when the force is removed. Beyond a certain point, they may deform permanently or fail. This relationship helps understand the strength and flexibility of materials, guiding their application in engineering and construction.