Yield strength is the stress required for permanent deformation in steel, determined by a tension test. It can be increased by heat treatments or mixing other materials. It differs from tensile strength, which is the point at which a metal breaks. The yield strength of steel varies based on the percentage of carbon and other materials added. Heat treatments can also affect yield strength by changing the crystalline structure of the metal. Engineers need to know the yield strength of materials to ensure structures can withstand stress.
The yield strength of steel is the amount of stress a piece of steel must experience in order to deform permanently and measurably. Yield strength is often defined as the point at which a measurable deviation of 0.2 has occurred in the steel. The yield strength of steel can be increased by using heat treatments or by mixing other materials with the steel to create a steel alloy. Engineers need to know the yield strength of the materials they are using to ensure that the structures they build will withstand the stresses placed on them.
Yield strength should not be confused with tensile strength. Tensile strength is the point at which stresses on a metal cause it to break or snap. Conversely, yield strength is the point at which a metal will undergo plastic deformation. A material is said to be plastically deformed when it bends under stress and cannot return to its original shape after the stress is removed. If the material is able to return to its original shape, this is referred to as elastic deformation. Elastic deformation can go on for some time before a metal deforms plastically.
The yield strength of a material is determined in the laboratory by means of a tension test. First, hundreds of samples of the material are subjected to stress. The point at which plastic deformation occurs is recorded for each sample. The measurements are then averaged to determine the material’s yield strength measured in pounds per square inch (psi). If more stress is applied to the material after it has reached its yield point, the material will soon reach its fracture point and break.
The technical definition of steel is iron to which carbon has been added to form an alloy. The yield strength of the steel and other properties of the steel will vary based on the percentage of carbon that has been added. The addition of other materials such as copper, lead and manganese can also have an effect on the yield strength of the steel. Metal product manufacturers release statistics on yield strength and other characteristics of specific products.
Heat treatments can also affect the yield strength of steel. The purpose of a heat treatment is to strengthen or soften the metal. Heating and cooling the metal to specified temperatures at controlled rates changes the crystalline structure of the metal. The crystalline structure is one of the main factors determining the strength of the metal.
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