Properties of Steel

 Properties of Steel

Steel behave differently conditions of loading. The important mechanical properties of steel are :

(1) Elasticity

(2) Plasticity 

(3) Ductility

(4) Brittleness

(5) Malleability

(6) Hardness

(7) Fatigue

(8) Creep

(9) Elastic Toughness

(10) Fracture Toughness

Steel

(1) Elasticity : The steel is said to be perfectly elastic if the deformation produced in it (under the action of loads applied) disappears completely on the removal of applied loads. Such a property possessed b a metal is known as ELASTICITY.

(2) Plasticity : When a metal shows that it has grained permanent deformation without rupture with comparatively less load is called PLASTICITY.

(3) Ductility : When a metal can be drawn out to a smaller section under the action of tensile force, is called a ductile metal. This property of metal is known as DUCTILITY.

(4) Brittleness : It is lackness of ductility. The metal breaks into pieces without perceptible warning, or without visible deformation under the action of impact or tensile load. Ductility decreases when the the percentage of carbon in steel increases and accordingly brittleness increases.

(5) Malleability : When a metal can be rolled or hammered into thin sheets, the property of the metal is called it is malleable and the related significant term MALLEABILITY.

(6) Hardness : The property of material by virtue of which it can resist abrasion, scratching, wear or penetration by harder bodies as known as hardness. Hardness decreases by heating.

(7) Fatigue : It is also called Endurance. The failure of a material due to repeated application of load less than ultimate load. Such a failure occurs in steel shaft rotating at a high speed and also in steel structures subjected to vibrations.

(8) Creep : The continuous deformation of a material under a constant load at a high temperature is known as CREEP. This property has important significance for the design of I.C. Engines, Turbines and Boilers.

(9) Elastic Toughness : It is the amount of energy stored per unit volume of the stressed material upto the elastic limit. It is also known as modulus of resistance.

(10) Fracture Toughness : It is the amount of energy stored by material before it fractures. The modulus of toughness is energy consumed by the material per unit volume till it fractures.