In engineering and materials science, necking is a mode of tensile deformation where relatively large amounts of strain localize disproportionately in a small region of the material. The resulting prominent decrease in local cross-sectional area provides the basis for the name "neck". Because the local strains in the neck are large, necking is often closely associated with yielding, a form of plastic deformation associated with ductile materials, often metals or polymers. Once necking has begun, the neck becomes the exclusive location of yielding in the material, as the reduced area gives the neck the largest local stress.
The Considère construction for prediction of the onset of necking, expressed as the gradient of the (true) stress-strain curve falling to the true stress, for a material conforming to the Ludwik-Hollomon relationship, with the parameter values shown.
The Considère construction for prediction of the onset of necking, expressed as the point where the gradient of the true stress – nominal strain curve extrapolates back to a nominal strain of -1 at zero stress, for a material conforming to the Ludwik-Hollomon relationship, with the parameter values shown.
Deformation (engineering)
In engineering, deformation refers to the change in size or shape of an object. Displacements are the absolute change in position of a point on the object. Deflection is the relative change in external displacements on an object. Strain is the relative internal change in shape of an infinitesimal cube of material and can be expressed as a non-dimensional change in length or angle of distortion of the cube. Strains are related to the forces acting on the cube, which are known as stress, by a stress-strain curve. The relationship between stress and strain is generally linear and reversible up until the yield point and the deformation is elastic. Elasticity in materials occurs when applied stress does not surpass the energy required to break molecular bonds, allowing the material to deform reversibly and return to its original shape once the stress is removed. The linear relationship for a material is known as Young's modulus. Above the yield point, some degree of permanent distortion remains after unloading and is termed plastic deformation. The determination of the stress and strain throughout a solid object is given by the field of strength of materials and for a structure by structural analysis.
Considere Plot. (a) True stress-strain curve without tangents. There is neither necking nor drawing. (b) With one tangent. There is only necking. (c) With two tangents. There are both necking and drawing.
