Linearity and reversibility answer different questions. The proportional limit ends the interval in which axial stress is proportional to axial strain. Elastic deformation means that deformation is recovered after unloading; a nonlinear response can still be elastic. Conversely, a short straight portion of a loading curve does not by itself demonstrate recovery.
To check recovery, unload and examine the local extensometer strain relative to its initial value, allowing for instrument resolution, drift and any time dependence. A residual extension can indicate plasticity in continuum mechanics, but grip slip can produce a residual in crosshead displacement without the same local residual. Compare the channels before assigning the effect to the specimen. Yield point concerns the onset of irreversible deformation; a specified offset proof stress is an operational convention rather than Young's modulus. For example, a offset proof stress is the intersection of the loading curve with , using the correctly referenced strain. Report the fitted stress/strain window and the unloading evidence alongside the modulus, so that apparatus seating, departure from linearity and onset of plasticity in continuum mechanics remain distinguishable.
The following values are stipulated arithmetic inputs, not measurements of a material. Take and lengths , . At forces , stipulate crosshead displacements
The two different initial offsets deliberately test the use of intercepts. Linear regression of gives , and
Their reciprocal spring constants are and . The compliance-versus-length slope is
so the recovered Young's modulus and machine compliance are
The corresponding apparatus spring constant is .
Figure 1.
Stipulated displacement fits separate length-dependent compliance from apparatus compliance
. Original calculated example, not experimental material data. Left: independent linear displacement fits at lengths 50 and 100 millimetres retain their different offsets. Right: the line through the two compliance values has slope 1/(EA0) and intercept Cm. The dashed segment extrapolates the model to zero length; it is not a third observation. Details.
Check the reconstruction at . The machine contribution is , and the two specimen contributions are and . Adding the respective offsets gives the stipulated and . An extensometer spanning on either ideal uniform specimen would instead read extension: engineering strain , at engineering stress . Their ratio is again . Ignoring machine compliance gives apparent moduli and even after removing the offsets. No yield point or real material identity is implied by these stipulated linear inputs.
Yield point 2026-10-18
A yield point marks onset of permanent deformation under the stated experimental criterion. A specified offset proof stress is an operational measure when a sharp yield transition is absent.