Which term describes the stress that flattens or crushes a material?

Which term describes the stress that flattens or crushes a material?

• A. Tension
• B. Shear
• C. Torsion
• D. Compression

Answer: (D)

Focus on how loads deform materials. When a force pushes inward from opposite faces along the same axis, the material shortens and can flatten or crush under enough load. This is compression. The other modes describe different deformations: tension pulls things apart, shear causes layers to slide past one another, and torsion twists the material. So flattening or crushing is best described by compression.

Focus on how loads deform materials. When a force pushes inward from opposite faces along the same axis, the material shortens and can flatten or crush under enough load. This is compression. The other modes describe different deformations: tension pulls things apart, shear causes layers to slide past one another, and torsion twists the material. So flattening or crushing is best described by compression.