Figure 1.

Tensile Testing Steel Samples

0 mm/Min 50 Tensile Test of Sample
1000

800

600

offset yield
400

200

0
Upper and Lower Yield Strength 560

Some materials (such as mild steel) exhibit a sharp

yield (called the upper yield strength) followed 520
immediately by a rapid drop in stress (down to the
lower yield strength). Only after additional added
strain does the stress starts to rise again. 480

For a material with this behavior, the "Yield Strength"

used is the lower yield strength. The reason for this 440
is that the upper yield strength is very sensitive to
the alignment of the specimen in the tensile tester,
and defects in the specimen such as those caused by
400
machining. The lower yield strength is more
repeatable.

Stress (MPa)
1. Measure the Yield Strength for Annealed Steel. 360

2. Compare your value for the Yield Strength to

those listed in reference data tables for the material. 320
Compare the value found for this material to other
sample.
280

240

200

160

0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07

Strain

Finding Yield Strength

 900

850

800

750

700

650

600

550

500

Stress (MPa)
450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0.00 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.24

Strain
 750

700

650

600

550

500

450

Stress (MPa)
400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0.00 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.24

Strain
S

S
A

A
eff

0.00 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.24

Strain