Tensile strength

Definition

Tensile strength is defined as a stress, which is measured as force per unit area. In the International System of Units (SI), the unit is the pascal (Pa) which is 1 N/m or for tensile strength more often a multiple thereof, like megapascals (MPa) or gigapascals (GPa). For some non-homogeneous materials (or for assembled components) it can be reported just as a force or as a force per unit width. A United States customary unit is pounds per square inch (lb/in or psi). Kilopounds per square inch (ksi, or sometimes kpsi) is equal to 1000 psi, and is commonly used in the United States, when measuring tensile strengths.