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Description:

Stress is defined as the force on a material divided by the material's cross-sectional area. If the force is stretching the material (e.g., a weight hanging from an object), we call it tensile stress. If the force is squishing the material (e.g., a weight placed on top of an object), we call it compressive stress.

Source:

Peter Massarelli

Source URL:

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~pjm8f/engr162/beam/stress_and_strain.htm