Calculating the Modulus of Resilience

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<h3>Calculating the Modulus of Resilience</h3>

“Resilience” is an engineering term that refers to the amount of energy a material can absorb and still return to its original state. The modulus of resilience μ for a given compound represents the area under the elastic portion of the stress-strain curve for that compound, and is written as:

(mu=frac{sigma_1^2}{2E})



Where ​σ​1 is the yield strain and E is Young’s modulus.

The modulus of resilience has units of energy per unit volume. In the international system (SI), this is Joules per cubic meter or J/m3. Because a Joule is a Newton-meter, J/m3 is the same as N/m2.

Step 1: Determine the Strain and Young’s Modulus

Consult a table of bulk elastic properties of common materials, such as the one on the Georgia State University web page. Using steel as an example, the strain is 2.5 × 108 N/m2 and Young’s modulus is 2 × 1011 N/m2.

Tip

1 psi (pounds per square inch), another common measure in materials science, is equal to 6.890 J/m3.



Dave Pennells

By Dave Pennells

Dave Pennells, MS, has contributed his expertise as a career consultant and training specialist across various fields for over 15 years. At City University of Seattle, he offers personal career counseling and conducts workshops focused on practical job search techniques, resume creation, and interview skills. With a Master of Science in Counseling, Pennells specializes in career consulting, conducting career assessments, guiding career transitions, and providing outplacement services. Her professional experience spans multiple sectors, including banking, retail, airlines, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace industry. Additionally, since 2001, he has been actively involved with the Career Development Association of Australia.