![Print Print](https://www.e-education.psu.edu/matse81/sites/all/modules/print/icons/print_icon.png)
![The specimen is situatated in between a load cell and a moving crosshead, with an extensometer attached. The sample is thicker at the ends & thinner in the middle.](/matse81/sites/www.e-education.psu.edu.matse81/files/images/lesson04/stress-strain_testing%20copy.png)
Testing stress-strain.
Credit: Callister & Rethwisch 5e.
A typical stress-strain testing apparatus is shown in the figure above, along with the typical geometry of a tensile test specimen. During a tensile test, the sample is slowly pulled while the resulting change in length and the applied force are recorded. Using the original length and surface area a stress-strain diagram can be generated.
To Read
Now that I have introduced stress, please go to your e-textbook and read the first two sections (pages 65 to 70 in Chapter 4 of Materials for Today's World, Custom Edition for Penn State University) of this lesson's reading. When finished with the reading proceed to the next web page.