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Chapter

3
The Behavior of Bodies under Stress
This discussion pertains to the behavior of what are commonly designated as structural materials. That is, materials suitable for structures and members that must sustain loads without suffering damage. Included in this category are most of the metals, concrete, wood, composite materials, some plastics, etc. It is beyond the scope of this boo to give more than a mere statement of a few important facts concerning the behavior of a stressed material. !"tensive literature is available on every phase of the sub#ect, and the articles contained herein will serve as an introduction only. 3.$ %ethods of &oading The mechanical properties of a material are usually determined by laboratory tests, and the commonly accepted values of ultimate strength, elastic limit, etc., are those found by testing a specimen of a certain form in a certain manner. To apply results so obtained in engineering design re'uires an understanding of the effects of many different variables, such as form and scale, temperature and other conditions of service, and method of loading. The method of loading, in particular, affects the behavior of bodies under stress. There are an infinite number of ways in which stress may be applied to a body, but for most purposes it is sufficient to distinguish the types of loading now to be defined. $. Short(time static loading. The load is applied so gradually that at any instant all parts are essentially in e'uilibrium. In testing, the load is increased progressively until failure occurs, and the total time re'uired to produce failure is not more than a few minutes. In