Lesson plan
Flexural modulus
In mechanics, the flexural modulus, bending modulus, or modulus of rigidity is an intensive property that is computed as the ratio of stress to strain in flexural deformation, or the tendency for a material to resist bending. It is determined from the slope of a stress-strain curve produced by a flexural test (such as the ASTM D790), and uses units of force per area. The flexural modulus defined using the 2-point (cantilever) and 3-point bend tests assumes a linear stress strain response. For a 3-point test of a rectangular beam behaving as an isotropic linear material, where w and h are the width and height of the beam, I is the second moment of area of the beam's cross-section, L is the distance between the two outer supports, and d is the deflection due to the load F applied at the middle of the beam, the flexural modulus: : E_{\mathrm{flex}} = \frac {L^3 F}{4 w h^3 d} From elastic beam theory : d = \frac {L^3 F}{48 I E } and for rectangular beam : I = \frac{1}{12}wh^3 thus E_{\mathrm{flex}} = E (Elastic modulus) For very small strains in isotropic materials – like glass, metal or polymer – flexural or bending modulus of elasticity is equivalent to the tensile modulus (Young's modulus) or compressive modulus of elasticity. However, in anisotropic materials, for example wood, these values may not be equivalent.…
Article summary
In mechanics, the flexural modulus, bending modulus, or modulus of rigidity is an intensive property that is computed as the ratio of stress to strain in flexural deformation, or the tendency for a material to resist bending. It is determined from the slope of a stress-strain curve produced by a flexural test (such as the ASTM D790), and uses units of force per area. The flexural modulus defined using the 2-point (cantilever) and 3-point bend tests assumes a linear stress strain response. For a 3-point test of a rectangular beam behaving as an isotropic linear material, where w and h are the width and height of the beam, I is the second moment of area of the beam's cross-section, L is the distance between the two outer supports, and d is the deflection due to the load F applied at the middle of the beam, the flexural modulus: : E_{\mathrm{flex}} = \frac {L^3 F}{4 w h^3 d} From elastic beam theory : d = \frac {L^3 F}{48 I E } and for rectangular beam : I = \frac{1}{12}wh^3 thus E_{\mathrm{flex}} = E (Elastic modulus) For very small strains in isotropic materials – like glass, metal or polymer – flexural or bending modulus of elasticity is equivalent to the tensile modulus (Young's modulus) or compressive modulus of elasticity. However, in anisotropic materials, for example wood, these values may not be equivalent.…
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.