Elastic & Plastic Deformation
Elastic & Plastic Deformation
- Elastic deformation: the object springs back to its original length once the force is removed.
- Plastic deformation: the object stays permanently longer, even after the force is gone.
- The elastic limit is the dividing line between the two.
Elastic, plastic and the elastic limit
- Below the elastic limit the stretch is elastic: remove the load and the object returns to its original length.
- The elastic limit is the point beyond which the object will not return to its original length.
- Past it the object is plastically deformed: it keeps some of the stretch for good.
Elastic means it returns to its original length; plastic means it keeps some extension. If an exam asks you to describe the behaviour, say whether the load was kept below the elastic limit (returns) or taken past it (permanent extension).