Ultimate tensile strength

Ultimate tensile strength (also called UTS, tensile strength, TS, ultimate strength or 
 
 
 
 
 F
 
 tu
 
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle F_{\text{tu}}}
 
 in notation) is the maximum <a href="/facts/Stress_(mechanics)/ErAXDbbd">stress</a> that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking. In <a href="/facts/Brittle_failure/nxDNAj0d">brittle</a> materials, the ultimate tensile strength is close to the <a href="/facts/Yield_point/mrSg02gW">yield point</a>, whereas in <a href="/facts/Ductility/SBJsahEk">ductile</a> materials, the ultimate tensile strength can be higher.
The ultimate tensile strength is usually found by performing a <a href="/facts/Tensile_test/f3vF9ped">tensile test</a> and recording the <a href="/facts/Stress%E2%80%93strain_analysis/LB8SFJu3">engineering stress</a> versus <a href="/facts/Strain_(engineering)/z1LEmkQX">strain</a>. The highest point of the <a href="/facts/Stress%E2%80%93strain_curve/zlDgdlMb">stress–strain curve</a> is the ultimate tensile strength and has units of stress. The equivalent point for the case of compression, instead of tension, is called the <a href="/facts/Compressive_strength/qVWDPDvo">compressive strength</a>.
<a href="/facts/Tension_(physics)/waNGYp3a">Tensile</a> strengths are rarely of any consequence in the design of <a href="/facts/Ductility/SBJsahEk">ductile</a> members, but they are important with brittle members. They are tabulated for common materials such as <a href="/facts/Alloy/I7w7WQWR">alloys</a>, <a href="/facts/Composite_material/UBysQldh">composite materials</a>, <a href="/facts/Ceramic/9JKudpqX">ceramics</a>, plastics, and wood.

Ultimate tensile strength open-in-new

Ultimate tensile strength