What is the term used to describe the stress at which a specimen actually breaks?

The term that describes the stress at which a specimen actually breaks is known as rupture strength. This is a critical parameter in material science and engineering as it indicates the maximum stress that a material can withstand before failing completely. When a material reaches its rupture strength, it undergoes a significant structural failure, which is often characterized by a complete separation of the material.

Rupture strength is particularly important in applications where materials are subject to high stress and can significantly affect the safety and reliability of structures and components. Understanding this property helps engineers to select appropriate materials for specific applications that require a certain level of durability and performance under stress.

In contrast, tensile strength refers specifically to the maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking, while compressive strength refers to the maximum stress a material can endure when compressed. Yield strength, on the other hand, is the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically. Each of these terms describes a different aspect of a material's response to stress, but rupture strength specifically addresses the point of actual failure.