Stress (Elasticity)¶
Stress is a physical quantity that describes forces present during deformation, defined as the (orientation-dependent) force across a small boundary per unit area of that boundary.
Mathematically, it can be represented by the Cauchy stress tensor which relates the normal vector of a surface to the traction force vector across that surface.
Depending on the nature of the deformation, stress can be referred to as tensile stress (due to stretching), compressive stress (due to compression), both types of normal stress perpendicular to the surface, or shear stress which runs parallel to the surface.
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