Metal Mechanical Properties Chart: Shear Strength, Tensile Strength, Yield Strength

Recently we’ve been getting a lot of inquiries from readers about mechanical property (metal strength) tables for various metals, such as the shear strength, tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of steel, etc.

Related reading: Type of metal

To meet the needs of our readers, we have compiled the following mechanical properties tables listing various ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Related reading: Ferrous vs Non-ferrous Metals

Hope that helps!

Table of mechanical properties of ferrous materials

(Metal Strength Chart)

Shear strength table of steel when heated

Note: The value of the shear strength of the material should be taken at the stamping temperature, which is usually 150~200℃ lower than the heating temperature.

Table of mechanical properties of non-ferrous metals

FAQs about metal mechanical properties

What is metal strength?

Metal strength refers to the ability of metal materials to resist permanent deformation and fracture under the action of external force.

Since the action modes of load include tension, compression, bending, shear and other forms, the strength is also divided into tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, shear strength and so on.

There is often a certain connection between various strengths.

Generally, tensile strength (The maximum tensile stress that the specimen can bear before breaking during tensile test) is used as a very basic strength index.

What does metal strength include?

Metal strength refers to the maximum ability of metal materials to resist the damage of external forces.

Metals have various strengths.

For example:

Tensile strength:

Code: σ b. Refers to the strength limit of external force under tension.

Compressive strength:

Code σbc refers to the strength limit when the external force is press.

Bending strength:

Code σbb refers to the ultimate shear strength when the external force is perpendicular to the material axis and makes the material bend after action.

For sheet metal, the strength also includes:

Shear strength, yield strength, impact performance, internal and external bending, etc.

What is tensile strength?

Tensile strength, a physical term, is the critical value of the transition of metal from uniform plastic deformation to local concentrated plastic deformation, and it is also the maximum bearing capacity of metal under static tension.

Tensile strength is the resistance to the maximum uniform plastic deformation of the material.

Before the tensile sample bears the maximum tensile stress, the deformation is uniform, but after exceeding the maximum tensile stress, the metal begins to shrink, that is, concentrated deformation;

For brittle materials with no (or very small) uniform plastic deformation, it reflects the fracture resistance of the material.

The symbol is Rm (the symbol of tensile strength specified in the old national standard of GB / T 228-1987 is σb) , in MPa.

What is compressive strength?

Compressive strength, code σ BC, refers to the strength limit when external force applies pressure.

In order to understand the characteristics of stone and whether it is applicable in engineering, the mechanical strength test of rock must be carried out first.

The most important strength test is the test of compressive strength.

What is bending strength?

Bending strength refers to the ability of materials to resist bending and continuous cracking.

It is mainly used to investigate the strength of brittle materials such as ceramics.

Generally, three-point bending test or four-point test method is used for evaluation.

The four point test requires two loading forces, which is more complex; three point test is the most commonly used.

Its value is directly proportional to the maximum pressure.

What is the difference between metal strength and hardness

The concepts of hardness and strength are different, but they are indicators to measure the mechanical properties of metal materials, which can be converted under certain conditions.

Hardness: it is the ability of metal to resist hard objects pressing into its surface. It measures the hardness and softness of metal.

The commonly used hardness indexes are Brinell hardness (HB), Rockwell hardness (HRC, HRB and HRA) and Vickers hardness (HV).

Strength: it refers to the ability of metal to resist permanent deformation and fracture under the action of external force. It measures the ability of metal to resist failure after bearing load.

The commonly used strength indexes are: yield strength and tensile strength.

The difference between metal strength and hardness:

Hardness is mainly used to check and control the heat treatment quality of metal parts.

Strength is an important basis for the design and material selection of general parts.

What is the strongest metal?

The strongest metal is tungsten, followed by titanium, tritium, osmium, iron, steel, zirconium, chromium, vanadium and tantalum.