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1Toughness and strength

2Mathematical definition

3Toughness tests

4Unit of toughness

5Toughest material

6See also

7References

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Toughness

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Material ability to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing

This article is about toughness of physical objects. For the mathematical concept in graph theory, see Graph toughness.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Toughness" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Toughness as defined by the area under the stress–strain curve

In materials science and metallurgy, toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing.[1] Toughness is the strength with which the material opposes rupture. One definition of material toughness is the amount of energy per unit volume that a material can absorb before rupturing. This measure of toughness is different from that used for fracture toughness, which describes the capacity of materials to resist fracture.[2]

Toughness requires a balance of strength and ductility.[1]

Toughness and strength[edit]

Toughness is related to the area under the stress–strain curve. In order to be tough, a material must be both strong and ductile. For example, brittle materials (like ceramics) that are strong but with limited ductility are not tough; conversely, very ductile materials with low strengths are also not tough. To be tough, a material should withstand both high stresses and high strains. Generally speaking, strength indicates how much force the material can support, while toughness indicates how much energy a material can absorb before rupturing.

Mathematical definition[edit]

Toughness can be determined by integrating the stress-strain curve.[1] It is the energy of mechanical deformation per unit volume prior to fracture. The explicit mathematical description is:[3]

energy

volume

=

∫

0

ε

f

σ

d

ε

{\displaystyle {\tfrac {\mbox{energy}}{\mbox{volume}}}=\int _{0}^{\varepsilon _{f}}\sigma \,d\varepsilon }

where

ε

{\displaystyle \varepsilon }

is strain

ε

f

{\displaystyle \varepsilon _{f}}

is the strain upon failure

σ

{\displaystyle \sigma }

is stress

If the upper limit of integration up to the yield point is restricted, the energy absorbed per unit volume is known as the modulus of resilience. Mathematically, the modulus of resilience can be expressed by the product of the square of the yield stress divided by two times the Young's modulus of elasticity. That is,

Modulus of resilience = Yield stress2/2 (Young's modulus)

Toughness tests[edit]

The toughness of a material can be measured using a small specimen of that material. A typical testing machine uses a pendulum to deform a notched specimen of defined cross-section. The height from which the pendulum fell, minus the height to which it rose after deforming the specimen, multiplied by the weight of the pendulum, is a measure of the energy absorbed by the specimen as it was deformed during the impact with the pendulum. The Charpy and Izod notched impact strength tests are typical ASTM tests used to determine toughness.

Unit of toughness[edit]

Tensile toughness (or deformation energy, UT) is measured in units of joule per cubic metre (J·m−3), or equivalently newton-metre per cubic metre (N·m·m−3), in the SI system and inch-pound-force per cubic inch (in·lbf·in−3) in US customary units:

1.00 N·m.m−3 ≃ 0.000145 in·lbf·in−3

1.00 in·lbf·in−3 ≃ 6.89 kN·m.m−3.

In the SI system, the unit of tensile toughness can be easily calculated by using area underneath the stress–strain (σ–ε) curve, which gives tensile toughness value, as given below:[4]

UT = Area underneath the stress–strain (σ–ε) curve = σ × ε

UT [=] F/A × ΔL/L = (N·m−2)·(unitless)

UT [=] N·m·m−3

UT [=] J·m−3

Toughest material[edit]

An alloy made of almost equal amounts of chromium, cobalt and nickel (CrCoNi) is the toughest material discovered thus far. It resists fracturing even at incredibly cold temperatures close to absolute zero. It is being considered as a material used in building spacecraft.[5]

See also[edit]

Hardness

Rubber toughening

Shock (mechanics)

Tablet hardness testing

References[edit]

^ a b c "Toughness", NDT Education Resource Center, Brian Larson, editor, 2001–2011, The Collaboration for NDT Education, Iowa State University

^ Askeland, Donald R. (January 2015). The science and engineering of materials. Wright, Wendelin J. (Seventh ed.). Boston, MA. p. 208. ISBN 978-1-305-07676-1. OCLC 903959750.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

^ Soboyejo, W. O. (2003). "12.3 Toughness and Fracture Process Zone". Mechanical properties of engineered materials. Marcel Dekker. ISBN 0-8247-8900-8. OCLC 300921090.

^ Balkan, O.; Demirer, H. (2010). "Mechanical properties of glass bead- and wollastonite-filled isotactic-polypropylene composites modified with thermoplastic elastomers". Polymer Composites. 31 (7): 1285–1308. doi:10.1002/pc.20953. ISSN 1548-0569.

^ Sparkes, Matthew (14 December 2022). "Toughest material ever is an alloy of chromium, cobalt and nickel". New Scientist. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

Authority control databases: National

Germany

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What is Toughness - Definition | Material Properties

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What is Toughness – Definition

Toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing. Toughness can also be defined with respect to regions of a stress–strain diagram. (for low-strain rate). Toughness is related to the area under the stress–strain curve.

Toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing. One definition of toughness (for high-strain rate, fracture toughness) is that it is a property that is indicative of a material’s resistance to fracture when a crack (or other stress-concentrating defect) is present. Toughness is typically measured by the Charpy test or the Izod test. The impact test measures toughness under conditions of sudden loading and the presence of flaws such as notches or cracks which will concentrate stress at weak points. Toughness is defined as the work required to deform one cubic inch of metal until it fractures.

Toughness can also be defined with respect to regions of a stress–strain diagram (for low-strain rate). Toughness is related to the area under the stress–strain curve. The stress-strain curve measures toughness under gradually increasing load. Tensile toughness is measured in units of joule per cubic metre (J·m−3) in the SI system. In order to be tough, a material must be both strong and ductile. The following figure shows a typical stress-strain curve of a ductile material and a brittle material. For example, brittle materials (like ceramics) that are strong but with limited ductility are not tough; conversely, very ductile materials with low strengths are also not tough. To be tough, a material should withstand both high stresses and high strains.

Notch Toughness

Notch toughness is measure of the energy absorbed (impact energy) during the fracture of a specimen (in the presence of a flaw – usually a V-notch) of standard dimensions and geometry when subjected to very rapid (impact) loading. As mentioned previously, in the presence of a flaw, such as a notch or crack, a material will likely exhibit a lower level of toughness. Charpy and Izod impact tests are used to measure this parameter, which is important in assessing the ductile-to-brittle transition behavior of a material. Similarly as for tensile toughness, notch toughness is measured in units of joule per cubic metre (J·m−3) in the SI system, but in this case we are measuring the area at the notch position.

Ductility

Some materials break very sharply, without plastic deformation, in what is called a brittle failure. Others, which are more ductile, including most metals, experience some plastic deformation and possibly necking before fracture. In materials science, ductility is the ability of a material to undergo large plastic deformations prior to failure and it is one of very important characteristics that engineers consider during design. Ductility may be expressed as percent elongation or percent area reduction from a tensile test. Ductility is an important factor in allowing a structure to survive extreme loads, such as those due large pressure changes, earthquakes and hurricanes, without experiencing a sudden failure or collapse. It is defined as:

Strength

In mechanics of materials, the strength of a material is its ability to withstand an applied load without failure or plastic deformation. Strength of materials basically considers the relationship between the external loads applied to a material and the resulting deformation or change in material dimensions. In designing structures and machines, it is important to consider these factors, in order that the material selected will have adequate strength to resist applied loads or forces and retain its original shape. Strength of a material is its ability to withstand this applied load without failure or plastic deformation.

Measuring Toughness – Impact Tests

As was written, toughness can be measured by the Charpy test or the Izod test. These two standardized impact tests, the Charpy and the Izod, are used to measure the impact energy (sometimes also termed notch toughness). The Charpy V-notch (CVN) technique is most commonly used. Both of these tests use a notched sample of defined cross-section. For these dynamic loading conditions and when a notch is present, we are using notch toughness. The location and shape of the notch are standard. The points of support of the sample, as well as the impact of the hammer, must bear a constant relationship to the location of the notch.

The tests are conducted by mounting the samples as shown in the figure and allowing a pendulum of a known weight to fall from a set height. The height from which the pendulum fell, minus the height to which it rose after deforming the specimen, multiplied by the weight of the pendulum is a measure of the energy absorbed by the specimen as it was deformed during the impact with the pendulum. The greater the amount of energy absorbed by the specimen, the smaller the upward swing of the pendulum will be and the tougher the material is.

Indication of toughness is relative and applicable only to cases involving exactly this type of sample and method of loading.

Charpy Impact Test. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

A sample of a different shape will yield an entirely different result. Notches confine the deformation to a small volume of metal that reduces toughness. The Izod impact test is similar to the Charpy impact test but uses a different arrangement of the specimen under test. The Izod impact test differs from the Charpy impact test in that the sample is held in a cantilevered beam configuration as opposed to a three-point bending configuration.

Ductile–brittle Transition Temperature

Brittle fracture of the U.S. Liberty Ship Esso Manhattan

As was written, the distinction between brittleness and ductility isn’t readily apparent, especially because both ductility and brittle behavior are dependent not only on the material in question but also on the temperature (ductile-brittle transition) of the material. The effect of temperature on the nature of the fracture is of considerable importance. Many steels exhibit ductile fracture at elevated temperatures and brittle fracture at low temperatures. The temperature above which a material is ductile and below which it is brittle is known as the ductile–brittle transition temperature (DBTT), nil ductility temperature (NDT), or nil ductility transition temperature. This temperature is not precise, but varies according to prior mechanical and heat treatment and the nature and amounts of impurity elements. It can be determined by some form of drop-weight test (for example, the Charpy or Izod tests).

The ductile–brittle transition temperature (DBTT) is the temperature at which the fracture energy passes below a predetermined value (e.g. 40 J for a standard Charpy impact test). Ductility is an essential requirement for steels used in the construction of reactor components, such as the reactor vessel. Therefore, the DBTT is of significance in the operation of these vessels. In this case, the size of the grain determines the properties of the metal. For example, smaller grain size increases tensile strength, tends to increase ductility and results in a decrease in DBTT. Grain size is controlled by heat treatment in the specifications and manufacturing of reactor vessels. The DBTT can also be lowered by small additions of selected alloying elements such as nickel and manganese to low-carbon steels.

Typically, the low alloy reactor pressure vessel steels are ferritic steels that exhibit the classic ductile-to-brittle transition behaviour with decreasing temperature. This transitional temperature is of the highest importance during plant heatup.

Failure modes:

Low toughness region: Main failure mode is the brittle fracture (transgranular cleavage). In brittle fracture, no apparent plastic deformation takes place before fracture. Cracks propagate rapidly.

High toughness region: Main failure mode is the ductile fracture (shear fracture). In ductile fracture, extensive plastic deformation (necking) takes place before fracture. Ductile fracture is better than brittle fracture, because there is slow propagation and an absorption of a large amount energy before fracture.

In some materials, the transition is sharper than others and typically requires a temperature-sensitive deformation mechanism. For example, in materials with a body-centered cubic (bcc) lattice the DBTT is readily apparent, as the motion of screw dislocations is very temperature sensitive because the rearrangement of the dislocation core prior to slip requires thermal activation. This can be problematic for steels with a high ferrite content. This famously resulted in serious hull cracking in Liberty ships in colder waters during World War II, causing many sinkings. The vessels were constructed of a steel alloy that possessed adequate toughness according to room-temperature tensile tests. The brittle fractures occurred at relatively low ambient temperatures, at about 4°C (40°F), in the vicinity of the transition temperature of the alloy. It must be noted that low-strength FCC metals (e.g. copper alloys) and most HCP metals do not experience a ductile-to-brittle transition and retain tough also for lower temperatures. On the other hand, many high-strength metals (e.g. very high-strength steels) also do not experience a ductile-to-brittle transition, but, in this case, they remain very brittle.

DBTT can also be influenced by external factors such as neutron radiation, which leads to an increase in internal lattice defects and a corresponding decrease in ductility and increase in DBTT.

Irradiation Embrittlement

During the operation of a nuclear power plant, the material of the reactor pressure vessel and the material of other reactor internals are exposed to neutron radiation (especially to fast neutrons >0.5MeV), which results in localized embrittlement of the steel and welds in the area of the reactor core.  This phenomenon, known as irradiation embrittlment, results in the steadily increase in DBTT. It is not likely that the DBTT will approach the normal operating temperature of the steel. However, there is a possibility that when the reactor is being shut down or during an abnormal cooldown, the temperature may fall below the DBTT value while the internal pressure is still high. Therefore nuclear regulators require that a reactor vessel material surveillance program be conducted in watercooled power reactors.

See also: Neutron Reflector

Irradiation embrittlement can lead to loss of fracture toughness. Typically, the low alloy reactor pressure vessel steels are ferritic steels that exhibit the classic ductile-to-brittle transition behaviour with decreasing temperature. This transitional temperature is of the highest importance during plant heatup.

Failure modes:

Low toughness region: Main failure mode is the brittle fracture (transgranular cleavage). In brittle fracture, no apparent plastic deformation takes place before fracture. Cracks propagate rapidly.

High toughness region: Main failure mode is the ductile fracture (shear fracture). In ductile fracture, extensive plastic deformation (necking) takes place before fracture. Ductile fracture is better than brittle fracture, because there is slow propagation and an absorption of a large amount energy before fracture.

Neutron irradiation tends to increase the temperature (ductile-to-brittle transition temperature) at which this transition occurs and tends to decrease the ductile toughness.

Fracture of Material

A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress. Engineers need to understand fracture mechanisms. There are fractures (e.g. brittle fracture), which occur under specific conditions without warning and can cause major damage to materials. Brittle fracture occurs suddenly and catastrophically without any warning. This is a consequence of the spontaneous and rapid crack propagation. However, for ductile fracture, the presence of plastic deformation gives warning that failure is imminent, allowing preventive measures to be taken. A detailed understanding of how fracture occurs in materials may be assisted by the study of fracture mechanics.

In the tensile test, the fracture point is the point of strain where the material physically separates. At this point, the strain reaches its maximum value and the material actually fractures, even though the corresponding stress may be less than the ultimate strength at this point. Ductile materials have a fracture strength lower than the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), whereas in brittle materials the fracture strength is equivalent to the UTS. If a ductile material reaches its ultimate tensile strength in a load-controlled situation, it will continue to deform, with no additional load application, until it ruptures. However, if the loading is displacement-controlled, the deformation of the material may relieve the load, preventing rupture. It is possible to distinguish some common characteristics among the stress–strain curves of various groups of materials. On this basis, it is possible to divide materials into two broad categories; namely:

Ductile Materials. Ductility is the ability of a material to be elongated in tension. Ductile material will deform (elongate) more than brittle material. Ductile materials show large deformation before fracture. In ductile fracture, extensive plastic deformation (necking) takes place before fracture. Ductile fracture (shear fracture) is better than brittle fracture, because there is slow propagation and an absorption of a large amount energy before fracture. Any fracture process involves two steps, crack formation and propagation, in response to an imposed stress. The mode of fracture is highly dependent on the mechanism of crack propagation. Cracks in ductile materials are said to be stable (i.e., resist extension without an increase in applied stress). For brittle materials, cracks are unstable. That means crack propagation, once started, continues spontaneously without an increase in stress level. Ductility is desirable in the high temperature and high pressure applications in reactor plants because of the added stresses on the metals. High ductility in these applications helps prevent brittle fracture.

Brittle Materials. Brittle materials, when subjected to stress, break with little elastic deformation and without significant plastic deformation. Brittle materials absorb relatively little energy prior to fracture, even those of high strength. In brittle fracture (transgranular cleavage), no apparent plastic deformation takes place before fracture. In crystalography, cleavage is the tendency of crystalline materials to split along definite crystallographic structural planes. Any fracture process involves two steps, crack formation and propagation, in response to an imposed stress. The mode of fracture is highly dependent on the mechanism of crack propagation. For brittle materials, cracks are unstable. That means crack propagation, once started, continues spontaneously without an increase in stress level. Cracks propagate rapidly (speed of sound) and occurs at high speeds – up to 2133.6 m/s in steel. It should be noted that smaller grain size, higher temperature, and lower stress tend to mitigate crack initiation. Larger grain size, lower temperatures, and higher stress tend to favor crack propagation. There is a stress level below which a crack will not propagate at any temperature. This is called the lower fracture propagation stress. For brittle fracture, the fracture surface is relatively flat and perpendicular to the direction of the applied tensile load. In general, brittle fracture requires three conditions:

Flaw such as a crack

Stress sufficient to develop a small deformation at the crack tip

Temperature at or below DBTT

Stress Corrosion Cracking

One of the most serious metallurgical problems and one that is a major concern in the nuclear industry is stress-corrosion cracking (SCC). Stress-corrosion cracking results from the combined action of an applied tensile stress and a corrosive environment, both influences are necessary. SCC is a type of intergranular attack corrosion that occurs at the grain boundaries under tensile stress. It tends to propagate as stress opens cracks that are subject to corrosion, which are then corroded further, weakening the metal by further cracking. The cracks can follow intergranular or transgranular paths, and there is often a tendency for crack branching. Failure behavior is characteristic of that for a brittle material, even though the metal alloy is intrinsically ductile. SCC can lead to unexpected sudden failure of normally ductile metal alloys subjected to a tensile stress, especially at elevated temperature. SCC is highly chemically specific in that certain alloys are likely to undergo SCC only when exposed to a small number of chemical environments.

The most effective means of preventing SCC in reactor systems are:

designing properly

reducing stress

removing critical environmental species such as hydroxides, chlorides, and oxygen

avoiding stagnant areas and crevices in heat exchangers where chloride and hydroxide might become concentrated.

Stress-corrosion cracking may cause, for example, a failure of nuclear fuel rod after inappropriate power changes, rod movement and plant startup. Certain austenitic stainless steels and aluminium alloys crack in the presence of chlorides and mild steel cracks in the presence of alkali (boiler cracking). Low alloy steels are less susceptible than high alloy steels, but they are subject to SCC in water containing chloride ions. Nickel-based alloys, however, are not effected by chloride or hydroxide ions. An example of a nickel-based alloy that is resistant to stress-corrosion cracking is inconel.

Special Reference: U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

Stress-corrosion Cracking as Fuel Failure Mechanism

Cladding prevents radioactive fission products from escaping the fuel matrix into the reactor coolant and contaminating it. There are various fuel failure root causes, that have been identified in past. In the early dates of PWR and BWR operations, these causes were predominantly fabrication defects or fretting. One of possible causes is also the pellet-cladding interaction (PCI), which may be caused by stress-corrosion cracking. Stress-corrosion cracking may cause, for example, a failure of nuclear fuel rod after inappropriate power changes, rod movement and plant startup.

In nominal operating conditions, pellet temperature stands at about 1,000° C at the center, 400–500° C at the periphery. In the event of a major increase in power, temperature at the pellet center rises steeply (> 1,500° C, or even > 2,000° C). In this case, a difference in thermal expansions between fuel cladding and fuel pellets causes an increase in stress in the fuel cladding. PCI fuel failure is caused by stress-corrosion cracking on the inside surface of the cladding, which results from the combined effects of fuel pellet expansion (especially at pellet radial cracks and the presence of an aggressive fission product environment (especially gaseous iodine). Such a failure is found to occur, experimentally, after from one to a few minutes’ holding time, at sustained high power levels.

Special Reference: CEA, Nuclear Energy Division. Nuclear Fuels, ISBN 978-2-281-11345-7

Hydrogen Embrittlement

Hydrogen embrittlement is one of many forms of stress-corrosion cracking. Hydrogen embrittlement results from the combined action of an applied tensile stress and a corrosive hydrogen environment, both influences are necessary. In this case the corrosive agent is hydrogen in its atomic form (H as opposed to the molecular form, H2), which diffuses interstitially through the crystal lattice, and concentrations as low as several parts per million can lead to cracking. Although embrittlement of materials takes many forms, hydrogen embrittlement in high strength steels has the most devastating effect because of the catastrophic nature of the fractures when they occur. Hydrogen embrittlement is the process by which steel loses its ductility and strength due to tiny cracks that result from the internal pressure of hydrogen (H2), which forms at the grain boundaries. In case of steels, hydrogen than diffuses along the grain boundaries and combines with the carbon to form methane gas. The methane gas collects in small voids along the grain boundaries, where it builds up enormous pressures that initiate cracks and decrease the ductility of the steel. If the metal is under a high tensile stress, brittle fracture can occur.

It is a complex process that is not completely understood because of the variety and complexity of mechanisms that can lead to embrittlement. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain hydrogen embrittlement. Mechanisms that have been proposed to explain embrittlement include the formation of brittle hydrides, the creation of voids that can lead to bubbles and pressure build-up within a material. Hydrogen is introduced to the surface of a metal and individual hydrogen atoms diffuse through the metal structure. Because the solubility of hydrogen increases at higher temperatures, raising the temperature can increase the diffusion of hydrogen.

For hydrogen embrittlement to occur, a combination of three conditions are required:

the presence and diffusion of hydrogen

a susceptible material

stress

In zirconium alloys, hydrogen embrittlement is caused by zirconium hydriding. At nuclear reactor facilities, the term “hydrogen embrittlement” generally refers to the embrittlement of zirconium alloys caused by zirconium hydriding.

Special Reference: U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

Hydrogen Embrittlement of Zirconium Alloys

Cladding prevents radioactive fission products from escaping the fuel matrix into the reactor coolant and contaminating it. There are various fuel failure root causes, that have been identified in past. In the early dates of PWR and BWR operations, these causes were predominantly fabrication defects or fretting. One of possible causes is also:

Internal Hydriding. Inadvertent inclusion of hydrogen-containing materials inside a fuel rod can result in hydriding and thus embrittlement of fuel cladding. Hydrogen sources were mainly residual moisture or organic contamination in fuel pellets/rods. This cause of failure has been practically eliminated through improved manufacturing.

Delayed hydride cracking (DHC). Delayed hydride cracking is time-dependent crack initiation and propagation through fracture of hydrides that can form ahead of the crack tip. This type of failure can be initiated by long cracks at the outer surface of the cladding, which can propagate in an axial/radial direction. This failure mechanism may potentially limit high burnup operation.

The aggressive agent in this respect is primary circuit water, at a temperature of some 300° C. This oxidizes zirconium according to the reaction:

Zr + 2H2O→ZrO2 + 2H2

resulting in formation of solid oxide on the metal’s surface.

Part of the hydrogen produced by the corrosion of zirconium in water combines with the zirconium to form a separate phase of zirconium hydride (ZrH1.5) platelets. Hydrogen migrates under the effect of the thermal gradient to accumulate in the less hot regions, forming hydrides that are liable to cause brittleness in the cladding, as the fuel cools down. The metal then becomes embrittled (ductility decreases) and it fractures easily. Cracks begin to form in the zirconium hydride platelets and are propagated through the metal.

Hydrogen embrittlement is also of very high importance for high temperature steam oxidation of zirconium alloys.

References:Materials Science:

U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

U.S. Department of Energy, Material Science. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 2 and 2. January 1993.

William D. Callister, David G. Rethwisch. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction 9th Edition, Wiley; 9 edition (December 4, 2013), ISBN-13: 978-1118324578.

Eberhart, Mark (2003). Why Things Break: Understanding the World by the Way It Comes Apart. Harmony. ISBN 978-1-4000-4760-4.

Gaskell, David R. (1995). Introduction to the Thermodynamics of Materials (4th ed.). Taylor and Francis Publishing. ISBN 978-1-56032-992-3.

González-Viñas, W. & Mancini, H.L. (2004). An Introduction to Materials Science. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-07097-1.

Ashby, Michael; Hugh Shercliff; David Cebon (2007). Materials: engineering, science, processing and design (1st ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-7506-8391-3.

J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.

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toughness

noun

tough·​ness

ˈtəf-nəs 

Synonyms of toughness

: the quality or state of being tough: such as

a

: the quality of being strong and not easily broken, torn, etc.

This combination of strength and ductility makes spider silk extremely tough, matching the toughness of state-of-the-art carbon fibers such as Kevlar.—MIT Technology Review

also

: the quality of being difficult to cut or chew

… the extreme toughness of the beef … , which rendered it quite unfit … for any human consumption. —Charles Dickens

b

: physical or emotional strength that allows someone to endure strain or hardship

Henin-Hardenne's unshakable mental toughness—she says one of her great joys in life is staving off a break point in a tight match—makes her all the more formidable.—L. Jon Wertheim

c

: the quality of being severe or uncompromising

the toughness of the new sentencing guidelines his toughness as a negotiator The Minnesota senator referenced the story during her campaign to showcase her toughness on crime.—Summer Concepcion and Matt Shuham Besides teaching us how to hit with pads [in football], [Sister] Paulinus instructed us in English, history, and the love of God, with a distinctive combination of toughness and good humor.—Luke Timothy Johnson

d

: the quality of being difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with

the toughness of life in prison the toughness of these decisions After an appearance on British television, he is almost giddy at the toughness of the questions he faced.—A. O. Scott Just spritz on some Dawn Power Dissolver, wait 15 to 30 minutes depending on the toughness of the job, wipe with a sponge, and rinse.—Cook's Illustrated

Examples of toughness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Streamer Adin Ross, for example, wasted no time getting his buddies together to take turns shooting his Cybertruck to demonstrate its tank-like toughness.

—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024

The State Department has already signalled a new toughness, putting four violent West Bank settlers under a sanctions regime.

—Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024

Cincinnati: The Bearcats have shown a great deal of toughness in their first season in the Big 12, losing six conference games by single digits.

—Keith Jenkins, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024

Two days ago after giving up 17 offensive rebounds to Oregon, Enfield questioned USC’s toughness on the boards.

—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2024

Here are 5 key games for Jeff Brohm's team

Louisville women's basketball rebounds from first ACC loss, shows toughness on boards

Louisville (6-14, 1-8 ACC) dug itself into an 11-0 hole less than five minutes into the game.

—The Courier-Journal, 27 Jan. 2024

Sarah’s toughness, her rage, won Foster an Academy Award.

—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2024

Harbaugh will certainly bring attention, but also a toughness and competitive attitude that should help the Chargers gain ground in a crowded playoff race.

—C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024

Smith plays him with a velvet toughness that reaches past the stage and into the audience; his performance is a marvel of clarity, and a kind of love.

—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024

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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toughness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

tough entry 1 + -ness

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of toughness was

in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near toughness

tough-minded

toughness

tough pitch

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“Toughness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toughness. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

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10 Mar 2024

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TOUGHNESS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

TOUGHNESS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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English

Meaning of toughness in English

toughnessnoun [ U ] uk

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/ˈtʌf.nəs/ us

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/ˈtʌf.nəs/

toughness noun [U]

(STRENGTH)

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C2 the quality of being strong and not easily broken or damaged: The toughness of the cast iron furnaces is remarkable.

C2 the quality of being not easily defeated or made weaker: She has a reputation for toughness and resilience. He demonstrated the skills and mental toughness that are crucial for a goalkeeper.

the quality of being determined or severe: He made the point that toughness on crime must be matched by toughness on its causes.

the quality of being violent or not kind or pleasant: They studied the "toughness" of the neighbourhood (for example, whether it was safe walking to school).

More examplesFewer examplesThe building's toughness protected people working inside.The designer was inspired by the toughness of leathers used in clothes for motorcycle racing.I developed physical strength, mental toughness, and the ability to work towards daunting goals.Especially in a time of war, toughness is a part of the presidential demeanour.The prison's approach is a mixture of toughness and compassion for offenders who are at the end of the line in the juvenile system.In the photos, kids bragged about the toughness of the area around East 123rd between Lenacrave and Angelus avenues.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Physically strong and powerful

(as) tough as old boots idiom

beefy

billy-o

brute

bulletproof

burly

indestructible

indestructibly

industrial-strength

intensely

invincible

rugged

ruggedly

shatterproof

shockproof

sinewy

stalwart

violent

washboard stomach

with a vengeance idiom

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Strength of will and determination

Stubborn and determined people

Serious and severe

Violent or aggressive

toughness noun [U]

(DIFFICULTY)

the quality of being difficult to deal with: They can't face the toughness of the competition. The toughness of the children's life is reflected in their faces.

More examplesFewer examplesI respect her because of the change she went through and the toughness of the decision she made.Passion is what gives you the resilience to overcome the toughness of the job.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Causing difficulties for oneself or others

ask questions of someone/something idiom

be a tall order idiom

be asking for trouble idiom

be your own worst enemy idiom

bother someone with something

dig

lay

make a rod for your own back idiom

make heavy weather of something idiom

obduracy

open a can of worms

overburden

sand

shoot

store something up

store up trouble/problems idiom

subject someone/something to something

swamp

tall

wrong-foot

See more results »

toughness noun [U]

(FOOD)

(of food) the quality of being difficult to cut or eat: The hamburger was spoiled by the toughness of the meat.

More examplesFewer examplesWhat causes toughness in meat? Largely incorrect cooking.The cooking time will depend on the age and toughness of the particular batch of vegetables, how thick they are and how you've cut them.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Various qualities of food

candy coat

candy-coated

citric

cordon bleu

creamily

farmhouse

fruity

herby

homegrown

homemade

hoppy

instant

nutritious

nutty

ripe

shelf-stable

single-estate

store-bought

sugar-coated

sugarcoat

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Not pleasant to eat or drink

See

tough

(Definition of toughness from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

toughness | American Dictionary

toughnessnoun [ U ] us

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/ˈtʌf·nəs/

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the quality of being strong and determined: He lacks the inner toughness needed in a leader.

(Definition of toughness from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of toughness

toughness

Therefore, to consume leaves with high fibre content may require a large expenditure of energy, irrespective of leaf strength and toughness.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

There was no latitudinal trend in leaf toughness.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Elements are given as total percentage composition, toughness in g mm"2.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

He combined fiery threats against landowners with toughness towards outsiders.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Undeterred, he shepherded his flock and gradually built up a base of popular support through a display of leadership, toughness and humour.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Carpet: a pure wool carpet was selected for its benign specification and toughness.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

We measured leaf water and nitrogen content, toughness, total phenolics, tannin activity and cell wall concentration, and tested for the presence of cyanogenic glycosides.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These species were chosen as they are relatively common and possess leaves that differ in toughness.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Remarkably, load length was held approximately constant, irrespective of the large differences in tissue toughness.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Not that they were inherently inferior soldiers, for they were internationally famed for their toughness, discipline, and appearance.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In particular, we address how stereotypical assumptions about soldiering as equated with masculine ' toughness' and ' violence' appear in the interview texts.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Hence, there was a trend of increasing defence (although not in leaf toughness) and declining nutritional quality towards the tropics.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Toughness and water content of leaves varied depending on the microhabitat.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The three species also differed in the physical toughness of their leaves (resistance to physical damage) which can also affect the rate of decomposition.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Both standardized and unstandardized toughness values were tested separately in the statistical models.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

See all examples of toughness

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of toughness?

C2,C2

Translations of toughness

in Chinese (Traditional)

堅韌, 牢固, 韌性…

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in Chinese (Simplified)

坚韧, 牢固, 韧性…

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in Spanish

dureza, fortaleza, resistencia…

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in Portuguese

rijeza…

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मजबुती, मजबूत आणि सहजपणे न तुटण्याची किंवा खराब न होण्याची गुणवत्ता, कणखरपणा…

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dureté…

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dayanıklılık…

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taaiheid…

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வலுவான மற்றும் எளிதில் உடைக்கப்படாமல் அல்லது சேதமடையாத தரம், எளிதில் தோற்கடிக்கப்படாத அல்லது பலவீனமடையாத குணம், தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்ட அல்லது கடுமையானதாக இருக்கும் தரம்…

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(आसानी से क्षतिग्रस्त न होने के कारण) कठोर, मजबूत, (व्यक्ति के हार न मानने की) दृढ़ता…

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મજબૂતાઈ, સહેલાઈથી તૂટે નહીં એવું, કઠોરતા…

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sejhed, styrke, barskhed…

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seghet…

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kuatnya…

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die Zähigkeit…

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hardhet, seighet, hardførhet…

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مضبوطی, حالات کا دیوانہ وار مقابلہ کرنا, شدت…

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твердість, міцність…

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బలంగా ఉండే, సులభంగా విరగకుండా లేదా దెబ్బతినకుండా ఉండే గుణం, దృఢత్వం / సులభంగా ఓడిపోకుండా లేదా బలహీనంగా ఉండకుండా ఉండే గుణం…

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শক্ত, দৃঢ়তা, কঠোরতা…

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tuhost, odolnost…

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ketangguhan…

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ความเหนียว…

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sự khó khăn…

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twardość…

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Contents

English 

Noun 

toughness (STRENGTH)

toughness (DIFFICULTY)

toughness (FOOD)

American 

 Noun

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materials - Strength vs. Hardness vs. Toughness - Engineering Stack Exchange

materials - Strength vs. Hardness vs. Toughness - Engineering Stack Exchange

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Strength vs. Hardness vs. Toughness

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Asked

5 years, 1 month ago

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2 years, 6 months ago

Viewed

31k times

3

$\begingroup$

for this question: "What is the difference between strength, hardness and toughness in materials?" i have searched and have found these following definitions

Strength refers to resistance to deformation, and also to a large

elastic range. In the Elastic region of the stress-strain

relationship, the relationship is described by a linear function, such

that σ = E ϵ, where σ is the stress, E is the Elastic modulus, and ϵ

is the strain.

Toughness is the resistance to failure or crack propagation. It is

somewhat related to strength. Very strong materials will have low

toughness, i.e. low tolerance for flaws or defects, i.e. incipient

cracks.

Reference

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/difference-between-toughness-and-strength.67220/

i don't understand those definitions. Aren't deformation and failure one? Are toughness, strength and hardness both the ability to resist external forces?

materials

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asked Feb 12, 2019 at 18:22

Danh DangDanh Dang

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2

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You may find this excellent comparison useful.

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– Chemomechanics

Feb 13, 2019 at 16:25

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Hardness is measured by the amount of penetration of a standard force.

$\endgroup$

– blacksmith37

Feb 13, 2019 at 16:55

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6

$\begingroup$

Strength = Ability of a material to withstand an applied load. There are several different measures of strength. Two common measures are the ability to withstand a load without plastic deformation (yield strength) or without failure (ultimate strength). In the sketch below, Material 1 has higher strength than Material 2. It can carry more load both before deforming plastically and before failing.

Toughness = Ability of a material to absorb energy without fracture. In a stress-strain curve, the area under the curve is often considered a measure of toughness. In the sketch below, Material 2 has higher toughness than Material 1. (I should have drawn them to be more obviously different, but let’s say the area under the Material 2 curve is greater than the area under the Material 1 curve.) So, Material 2 may have a lower strength than Material 1 but it is able to absorb more total energy before failure.

Hardness = ability of a material to resist plastic deformation.

Note that the sketch reflects two hypothetical (imaginary) material curves. Many other stress-strain curve profiles are possible. Also note that the description of toughness presented here is based on general material toughness, which is only one way to assess toughness. There is also impact toughness, notch toughness, and fracture toughness (the NDT resource center offers an introductory discussion of each) but these quantitative toughness measures are outside my personal experience so I won’t attempt to comment on them.

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edited Feb 13, 2019 at 18:15

answered Feb 12, 2019 at 19:58

CableStayCableStay

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6

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I'll add that strength and toughness can be different depending on direction or plane of loading. Some materials are stronger in compression than tension (concrete). Hardness is usually measured at the surface by trying to make a scratch or indent with another material (a harder rock is able to scratch a softer rock)

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– EMiller

Feb 12, 2019 at 20:09

1

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I want to know how you made that sweet chart.

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– geekly

Feb 13, 2019 at 12:51

1

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@geekly it’s drawn using an iPad pro, apple pencil, and the Autodesk Sketchbook app

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– CableStay

Feb 13, 2019 at 12:58

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To learn more about toughness look at LEFM in Wikipedia ( linear elastic fracture mechanics ). The original reference is incorrect ; Very high strength materials may also have high toughness.

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– blacksmith37

Feb 13, 2019 at 17:00

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@blacksmith37 The sketch wasn’t saying anything about absolute values of toughness or intending to suggest higher strength materials always have lower toughness relative to lower strength materials. It was merely intended to be a hypothetical illustration. It shows two possible (imaginary) material curves. Of course many other stress-strain curves are possible. I may edit the answer to include that clarification.

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– CableStay

Feb 13, 2019 at 17:59

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Hardness is the measure of a material resistance to scratching, like it's hard to drill a hole into, or hard to sand. Or diamond that can cut many surfaces but is hard to cut.

Toughness is the ability of material to resist cracking or breaking under stress.

Strength is the ability of material to withstand great tension or compression or other forces. Like a steel cable that can support great tension.

This properties overlap at certain functionalities.

I have added a diagram that clarifies this more.

And this is link to the site to the site.

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answered Feb 12, 2019 at 20:12

kamrankamran

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Your definition of toughness sounds more like that of fracture toughness. They're different parameters!

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Strength = Stress required to produce failure. It is often used to determine how much force an object can take without breaking, but there are many measures of strength.

Hardness = Force / Area. The larger the area produced by a given force, the lower the hardness. It can be correlated to, but is not the same as strength.

Toughness = Energy required to form a crack. Ceramics have low toughness because cracks form easily.

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Hardness vs. Toughness: What's the Difference? - EngineerExcel

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HomeEngineeringMechanics of MaterialsEnergy MethodsHardness vs. Toughness: What’s the Difference?

Hardness vs. Toughness: What’s the Difference?By

EngineerExcel

Hardness and toughness are material properties than sound similar in layman’s terms but are in fact two distinct scientific measures. Tough materials are those that are resistant to fracturing, measured by the amount of breaking energy they can withstand. Hardness, on the other hand, is how much a material can withstand scratches, cuts, or other abrasions, as well as plastic deformation.

Table of ContentsWhat is the Relationship Between Hardness vs Toughness?Is Steel Hard or Tough?The Difference Between Toughness and StrengthWhat Is The Difference Between Toughness and Ductility?

What is the Relationship Between Hardness vs Toughness?

Hardness and toughness have an inverse relationship. As one increases, the other decreases in turn. The material properties that govern both hardness and toughness are in essence “counteracting” one another. It’s a give and take for a material.

Like we mentioned above, hardness is a measure of a material’s resistance to cutting and other abrasions. But it’s also a measure of how willing (or unwilling) a material or object is to plastic (permanent) deformation. If a material is difficult to scratch, or unwilling to bend, then it is relatively hard.

Hardness is measured with a hardness tester and is usual measured on the Rockwell scale. A hardness tester measures how deeply a stylus with a specified profile can penetrate the surface of a material.

On the other hand, toughness determines how easily an object will break or fracture with a force. If you throw something against a wall and it shatters into small pieces, than that material is said to have a low toughness to it.

Charpy testing is used to measure the toughness of a material. A Charpy test measures the amount of energy a test specimen can absorb before failing.

Let’s look at a few examples to give an idea of how hardness and toughness differ.

Take a sponge, for example. If you were to tear a sponge, it would rip apart easily. That means that a sponge has a very low hardness. However, if you were to drop a sponge off a tall building, it’d probably bounce once or twice and when pick it up it would look the same, no damage at all. And that’s because a sponge has a relatively high toughness.

Is Steel Hard or Tough?

Whether steel is hard or tough depends on what kind of steel it is. Steels can be shaped differently and made into a variety of alloys by mixing in carbon or other metals.

Generally, steel that is harder sacrifices toughness and becomes much more brittle. If a piece of steel is very thin, obviously it is more brittle as well and will break under small amounts of force, but it’s important to remember that measures of hardness and toughness are relative to the shape and size of a material as well. Steel could also be tempered to be more malleable, or in other words more bendable, and therefore tougher and harder to break.

In carbon steel, the way the alloy is formed dictates these two properties. Hardness occurs when the steel has long, thin needle shaped grains of carbon alloys running through it, that can help to resist deforming forces. When carbon steel has more round grains of carbon alloys interspersed within it, it is tougher and able to resist shock forces.

The Difference Between Toughness and Strength

Toughness and strength are two other terms that are often used interchangeably, at least when speaking generally. But again in material property terms, these two words do not mean the same thing.

Strength is an all-encompassing word that can be defined in multiple ways depending on what is being studied. Yield strength is a material’s ability to withstand force before plastic deformation occurs, while ultimate strength is the ability to withstand force before total force. Both strength variations indicate how well a material can sustain a load.

Toughness is not the same thing as strength, because it describes a different mode of failure. Toughness is a material’s ability to absorb shock-like energy without fracturing, like from the blow of a hammer. There also exists various types of toughness, like notch toughness, impact toughness, and fracture toughness.

The difference between these two properties, and hardness too, are well illustrated by stress-strain curves derived from a tensile test. The line of a material under stress will move linearly, stress (y-axis) and strain (x-axis) increasing, until its yield strength is reached. From there, it will curve in a manner and flatten (only strain increasing, stress having leveled out), until it stops at ultimate failure. The area under the curve is equivalent to a material’s toughness.

Studying the stress-strain curve, a material may have a higher yield and ultimate strength, but ultimately a lower toughness than another material. This is because there is more strain before ultimate failure occurs in the tougher material.

What Is The Difference Between Toughness and Ductility?

The key to toughness is being able to absorb energy, obviously without fracturing. Ductility is defined as the measure of how much a material will deform before fracturing. That sounds quite like toughness, but in reality, the two properties do not have a one-to-one relationship.

Keeping with the stress-strain curve, a highly ductile material will experience a lot of strain before ultimate yielding. Since the area underneath the stress-strain curve is equal to toughness, a material with a good combination of strength and ductility will have a high toughness.

Take the example of different carbon steel alloys. High carbon steel will easily be the strongest, having the highest yield and ultimate strength, but breaking quickly with little strain. Low carbon steel is the opposite, breaking more easily but able to be bent much more before failure. It is medium steel, with a good strength and ductility, that has the highest toughness (and area under stress-strain tensile test curve).

About The Author EngineerExcel The editorial team at EngineerExcel consists of a passionate group of engineering experts headed by Charlie Young, P.E. Their goal is to produce well-researched, highly detailed content that assists engineers in grasping important concepts, improving productivity, and advancing their careers.

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Difference Between Hardness and Toughness | Definition, Characteristics, Tests, Examples

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Home » Science » Physics » Difference Between Hardness and Toughness

Difference Between Hardness and Toughness

February 18, 2017by Pabasara4 min read

Main Difference – Hardness vs Toughness

Hardness and toughness are properties related to materials which are generally used in material engineering. Together, they define the strength of a given material. These two properties are inversely proportional to each other. While hardness increases, toughness decreases. This is the key difference between hardness and toughness.  

This article explains,1. What is Hardness      – Definition, Characteristics, Tests, Examples2. What is Toughness      – Definition, Characteristics, Tests, Examples3. What is the difference between Hardness and Toughness

What is Hardness

Hardness is defined by the resistance of a material to plastic deformation, usually by indentation. This also refers to the resistance to scratching, abrasion or cutting. There are several globally approved tests to measure hardness.

Tests to Measure Hardness

Rockwell Hardness test

Brinell Hardness Test

Vickers Hardness Test

Knoop Hardness Test

Shore Hardness Test

Mohs Hardness Test

Hard materials are scratchproof. Hardness depends on the strength and the plasticity of the material. Higher the hardness, longer the lifetime of the material.

Examples of Hard Materials

Diamond which is an allotrope of carbon was considered as the hardest material on earth. It was used not only in jewelry manufacturing but also for various machinery. Diamond is also used to cut glasses, ceramic, etc.

However, a group of scientists from North Carolina State University has declared that they have come up with an even harder material called Q-Carbon.

Figure 1: Diamond is one of the hardest material on earth.

What is Toughness

Toughness relates to the resistance of a material to fracturing; this depends on the energy absorbed during fracturing, which in turn depends on the size of the material. The amount of energy absorbed per unique area is characteristic of the material. Tough material like mild steel is not easy to be cracked or broken.

Toughness depends on the ability of the material to be deformed under pressure, which is known as ductility. However, not all ductile materials are strong. Toughness is a combination of strength and ductility. For a material to be tough, both ductility and strength should be high. Material toughness has the units of energy per volume.

Factors that Affect Toughness

The rate of loading- Toughness decreases with the decrease of rate of loading

Temperature – When temperature is decreased, ductility decreases, hence toughness decreases

Notch effect – When force is applied on one axis a certain material may be able to withhold it, however, when force is applied multi-axially the material may fail to do so.

There are several toughness tests and the toughness is measured by the following.

Impact toughness

Notch toughness

Fracture toughness

Some materials can be made tough by heating it to a certain temperature, maintaining that temperature for a given time and rapidly cooling the material. Steel is one such material.

Figure 2: Steel can be made tough by heating and then cooling rapidly

Difference Between Hardness and Toughness

Definition

Hardness: Hardness is the resistance to scratching, cutting or abrasion.

Toughness: Toughness is the resistance to fracturing and this quality depends on the maximum energy that can be absorbed before fracturing.

Properties

Hardness: Hard materials are scratchproof.

Toughness: Tough materials are not easily breakable and can withstand high pressures. 

Factors that Affect Hardness and Toughness

Hardness: This is affected by the strength and plasticity of the material.

Toughness: Rate of loading, temperature, notch effect affect toughness.

Testing Methods

Hardness: Rockwell hardness test, Brinell hardness test, Vickers hardness test, Knoop hardness test, Shore hardness test, Mohs hardness test are tests that measure the hardness.

Toughness: Impact toughness, Notch toughness, and Fracture toughness are tests to measure the toughness. 

 Reference:1. “Material Hardness.” CALCE. University of Maryland, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.2.”Property Information – Toughness.” Department of Engineering. University of Cambridge, n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.“Toughness.” 3. NDT Resource Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

Image Courtesy:1. “Apollo synthetic diamond” By Steve Jurvetson – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia2.”Stainless Steel Braids (3054915298)” By włodi from London, UK – Stainless Steel BraidsUploaded by Yarl (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

About the Author: Pabasara

Pabasara posses a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and is reading for M.Phil. in Chemistry. She has working experience in both academic and industry environments.

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TOUGHNESS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

TOUGHNESS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

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Meaning of toughness in English

toughnessnoun [ U ] us

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/ˈtʌf.nəs/ uk

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/ˈtʌf.nəs/

toughness noun [U]

(STRENGTH)

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C2 the quality of being strong and not easily broken or damaged: The toughness of the cast iron furnaces is remarkable.

C2 the quality of being not easily defeated or made weaker: She has a reputation for toughness and resilience. He demonstrated the skills and mental toughness that are crucial for a goaltender.

the quality of being determined or severe: He made the point that toughness on crime must be matched by toughness on its causes.

the quality of being violent or not kind or pleasant: They studied the "toughness" of the neighborhood (for example, whether it was safe walking to school).

More examplesFewer examplesThe building's toughness protected people working inside.The designer was inspired by the toughness of leathers used in clothes for motorcycle racing.I developed physical strength, mental toughness, and the ability to work toward daunting goals.Especially in a time of war, toughness is a part of the presidential demeanor.The prison's approach is a mixture of toughness and compassion for offenders who are at the end of the line in the juvenile system.In the photos, kids bragged about the toughness of the area around East 123rd between Lenacrave and Angelus avenues.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Physically strong and powerful

(as) tough as old boots idiom

beefy

billy-o

brute

bulletproof

burly

indestructible

indestructibly

industrial-strength

intensely

invincible

rugged

ruggedly

shatterproof

shockproof

sinewy

stalwart

violent

washboard stomach

with a vengeance idiom

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Strength of will and determination

Stubborn and determined people

Serious and severe

Violent or aggressive

toughness noun [U]

(DIFFICULTY)

the quality of being difficult to deal with: They can't face the toughness of the competition. The toughness of the children's life is reflected in their faces.

More examplesFewer examplesI respect her because of the change she went through and the toughness of the decision she made.Passion is what gives you the resilience to overcome the toughness of the job.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Causing difficulties for oneself or others

ask questions of someone/something idiom

be a tall order idiom

be asking for trouble idiom

be your own worst enemy idiom

bother someone with something

dig

lay

make a rod for your own back idiom

make heavy weather of something idiom

obduracy

open a can of worms

overburden

sand

shoot

store something up

store up trouble/problems idiom

subject someone/something to something

swamp

tall

wrong-foot

See more results »

toughness noun [U]

(FOOD)

(of food) the quality of being difficult to cut or eat: The hamburger was spoiled by the toughness of the meat.

More examplesFewer examplesWhat causes toughness in meat? Largely incorrect cooking.The cooking time will depend on the age and toughness of the particular batch of vegetables, how thick they are and how you've cut them.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Various qualities of food

candy coat

candy-coated

citric

cordon bleu

creamily

farmhouse

fruity

herby

homegrown

homemade

hoppy

instant

nutritious

nutty

ripe

shelf-stable

single-estate

store-bought

sugar-coated

sugarcoat

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Not pleasant to eat or drink

See

tough

(Definition of toughness from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

toughness | Intermediate English

toughnessnoun [ U ] us

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/ˈtʌf·nəs/

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the quality of being strong and determined: He lacks the inner toughness needed in a leader.

(Definition of toughness from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of toughness

toughness

There's a toughness in our work culture that has seen its day.

From Chicago Tribune

The same goes for those who think that toughness is built on humiliating others.

From NPR

The same goes for those who think toughness is built on humiliating others.

From ThinkProgress

His toughness, aggressiveness and athleticism help him overcome his lack of size.

From Chicago Tribune

Cool pose is about self-presentation of style -- the art of aloofness and emotional detachment, postulating toughness and strength as acceptable forms of male behavior.

From Huffington Post

This undoubtedly arises from a neurotic need to demonstrate toughness and dovetails perfectly with the belligerent tough-guy pose one constantly hears on right-wing talk radio.

From TIME

I think the catcher's toughness is really recognized.

From NPR

The league prides itself on its competitive nature and toughness, as well as its ability to prepare its players for high school football.

From USA TODAY

This is the ultimate example of mental toughness -- and there are lessons to be learned for all of us.

From Huffington Post

He had six points, seven assists, seven boards and one huge show of toughness.

From New York Post

He called students out, but his toughness was balanced with unmistakable love.

From NPR

Principals continue to rely on suspension, in part because it creates the appearance of toughness.

From Slate Magazine

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of toughness?

C2,C2

Translations of toughness

in Chinese (Traditional)

堅韌, 牢固, 韌性…

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in Chinese (Simplified)

坚韧, 牢固, 韧性…

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in Spanish

dureza, fortaleza, resistencia…

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in Portuguese

rijeza…

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मजबुती, मजबूत आणि सहजपणे न तुटण्याची किंवा खराब न होण्याची गुणवत्ता, कणखरपणा…

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dureté…

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dayanıklılık…

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taaiheid…

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வலுவான மற்றும் எளிதில் உடைக்கப்படாமல் அல்லது சேதமடையாத தரம், எளிதில் தோற்கடிக்கப்படாத அல்லது பலவீனமடையாத குணம், தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்ட அல்லது கடுமையானதாக இருக்கும் தரம்…

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(आसानी से क्षतिग्रस्त न होने के कारण) कठोर, मजबूत, (व्यक्ति के हार न मानने की) दृढ़ता…

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મજબૂતાઈ, સહેલાઈથી તૂટે નહીં એવું, કઠોરતા…

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sejhed, styrke, barskhed…

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seghet…

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kuatnya…

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die Zähigkeit…

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hardhet, seighet, hardførhet…

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مضبوطی, حالات کا دیوانہ وار مقابلہ کرنا, شدت…

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твердість, міцність…

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బలంగా ఉండే, సులభంగా విరగకుండా లేదా దెబ్బతినకుండా ఉండే గుణం, దృఢత్వం / సులభంగా ఓడిపోకుండా లేదా బలహీనంగా ఉండకుండా ఉండే గుణం…

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শক্ত, দৃঢ়তা, কঠোরতা…

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tuhost, odolnost…

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ketangguhan…

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ความเหนียว…

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sự khó khăn…

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twardość…

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Contents

English 

Noun 

toughness (STRENGTH)

toughness (DIFFICULTY)

toughness (FOOD)

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toughness noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

toughness noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

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Definition of toughness noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

toughness noun  /ˈtʌfnəs/  /ˈtʌfnəs/[uncountable]

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the strength to deal successfully with difficult conditions or situationsHer background had given her the physical and mental toughness that enabled her to fight for what she wanted.

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physical strength and the fact of tending to become violentHe hid his insecurities behind a mask of macho toughness.

the quality of being strong and not easily cut, broken, torn, etc.the toughness of steel toughness (on something) determination that particular rules be obeyed and a lack of sympathy for any problems or difficulty that this may causethe government's new-found toughness on crime Check pronunciation:

toughness

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toughly adverb

tough-minded adjective

toughness noun

tough out phrasal verb

toupee noun

boost

verb

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The conflicts between strength and toughness | Nature Materials

The conflicts between strength and toughness | Nature Materials

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Published: 24 October 2011

The conflicts between strength and toughness

Robert O. Ritchie1 

Nature Materials

volume 10, pages 817–822 (2011)Cite this article

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AbstractThe attainment of both strength and toughness is a vital requirement for most structural materials; unfortunately these properties are generally mutually exclusive. Although the quest continues for stronger and harder materials, these have little to no use as bulk structural materials without appropriate fracture resistance. It is the lower-strength, and hence higher-toughness, materials that find use for most safety-critical applications where premature or, worse still, catastrophic fracture is unacceptable. For these reasons, the development of strong and tough (damage-tolerant) materials has traditionally been an exercise in compromise between hardness versus ductility. Drawing examples from metallic glasses, natural and biological materials, and structural and biomimetic ceramics, we examine some of the newer strategies in dealing with this conflict. Specifically, we focus on the interplay between the mechanisms that individually contribute to strength and toughness, noting that these phenomena can originate from very different lengthscales in a material's structural architecture. We show how these new and natural materials can defeat the conflict of strength versus toughness and achieve unprecedented levels of damage tolerance within their respective material classes.

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Figure 1: Conflicts of strength versus toughness.Figure 2: Strength and toughness strategies for BMG alloys.Figure 3: Extrinsic toughening in monolithic ceramics.Figure 4: The structure of bone showing the seven levels of hierarchy with the prevailing toughening mechanisms.Figure 5: Toughening in mollusc shells (nacre) and in corresponding biomimetic ceramics.

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Download referencesAcknowledgementsThis work was supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. Particular thanks to A. P. Tomsia and E. Launey for their help with this paper.Author informationAuthors and AffiliationsMaterials Sciences Division, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, California, USARobert O. RitchieAuthorsRobert O. RitchieView author publicationsYou can also search for this author in

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Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleRitchie, R. The conflicts between strength and toughness.

Nature Mater 10, 817–822 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3115Download citationPublished: 24 October 2011Issue Date: November 2011DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3115Share this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy to clipboard

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