What Does
Normal Strain Mean?
Normal strain is a term that describes the response of a solid to the application of a normal force (i.e., a force that is perpendicular to the object's cross-sectional area). This property can be defined by the formula below:
ε = ΔL / L
Where:
ε = Normal strain
ΔL = Change in length
L = original length
Normal strain is sometimes referred to dimensional strain or just strain.
Corrosionpedia Explains Normal Strain
Normal strains can be categorized as either tensile or compressive. When the applied force causes the object to stretch or elongate, the strain is classified as tensile. Conversely, if the applied force causes the object to shorten or compress, the strain is classified as compressive.
Strain, unlike its closely related counterpart, stress, is not expressed as a unit of measurement. Rather, it is a dimensionless property that describes the relationship between the object's original length and its change in length. For example, a normal strain value of +/- 0.1 means that an object has either increased in length by +10% (tensile) or decreased in length by -10% (compressive).