What term describes a condition where a material breaks down and deforms permanently due to slight stress above the elastic limit?

Study for the GERTC PSAD Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The term that describes a condition where a material breaks down and deforms permanently due to slight stress above the elastic limit is plasticity. Plasticity refers to the ability of a material to undergo non-reversible deformation when subjected to an applied stress beyond its elastic limit. This characteristic is vital in various engineering applications, as it allows materials to retain a new shape rather than returning to their original form when the stress is removed.

In contrast, elasticity pertains to the ability of a material to return to its original shape after the stress is removed, which does not apply when a material undergoes permanent deformation. Ductility relates to a material's ability to deform under tensile stress, often characterized by stretching or elongation, but it does not encompass all aspects of permanent deformation under varying stresses. Brittleness describes a material's tendency to break or fracture without significant deformation, a property contrary to what is observed in plasticity. Understanding these definitions is crucial for analyzing materials in design and construction, as it affects their performance under load.

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