Stress Analysis

Stress analysis is an engineering (e.g., civil engineering, mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering) discipline that determines the stress and strain in materials and structures subjected to static or dynamic forces or loads. A stress analysis is required for the study and design of structures, e.g., tunnels, dams, mechanical parts, structural frames and aircraft structure among others, under prescribed or expected loads and/or deflections. Stress analysis may be applied as a design step to structures that do not yet exist or an investigative process for parts that have failed.

The aim of the analysis is usually to determine whether the element or collection of elements, usually referred to as a structure, behaves as desired under the prescribed loading. For example, this might be achieved when the determined stress from the applied force(s) is less than the tensile yield strength or below the fatigue strength of the material.

Analysis may be performed through classical mathematical techniques, analytic mathematical modelling or computational simulation, through experimental testing techniques, or a combination of methods.

Engineering quantities are usually measured in megapascals (MPa) or gigapascals (GPa)or in imperial units, pounds per square inch (psi) or kilopounds-force per square inch (ksi).