The ultimate limit of mechanical strain where a component loses structural integrity and physically snaps or ruptures. It represents the end of the plastic deformation phase on a stress-strain curve. Engineers design parts with safety factors to ensure operational loads remain far below this threshold.
Heard on the job
We loaded the test coupon on the tensile rig and found the breaking point was ten percent lower than the FEA predicted.
Also heard as
- ultimate tensile strength
- failure point