Tensile Strength
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Definition
Tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched before it fractures, measured in megapascals (MPa) or pounds per square inch (psi).
Explanation
Structural steel has a tensile strength of 400–700 MPa; concrete is only 2–5 MPa in tension (which is why it is reinforced with steel rebar). Spider silk is remarkable at ~1,000 MPa while weighing almost nothing. Carbon fiber composites used in aerospace can exceed 3,500 MPa. Tensile strength is distinct from yield strength—materials deform permanently at yield before reaching tensile failure.
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