Types of stress
The term 'stress' can be used in many ways with many forms of stress occurring throughout structures:
These stresses can be calculated with a high degree of accuracy. Hence we can predict a structural member's performance if we compare the stresses that it can take before it reaches its yield point, compared to the actual stresses it will be subject to once all the loads have been calculated. A material can still perform after yield stress. Once material is past the yield stress point it is in the elastic zone, then it is in the plastic zone. Materials return to their original length when stressed in elastic zone, but deform once stressed passed yield stress point.