EngiRef / Mechanical Engineering Formula

Normal Stress

Normal Stress: Stress is force per unit area acting on a material. A Statics formula in mechanical engineering. Variables σ, F and A, each with SI and imperial…

Statics

Specification

Name
Normal Stress
Discipline
mechanical
Category
Statics
LaTeX
\sigma = \frac{F}{A}
Description
Stress is force per unit area acting on a material
Conditions
Valid for uniform stress distribution over the cross-section
Can solve for
σ, F, A
Tags
stress, force, area, tension, compression

Variables

Variables for Normal Stress
SymbolNameUnitSi UnitImperial UnitDescription
σStressPaPapsiNormal stress
FForceNNlbfApplied force
AAreain²Cross-sectional area

Common questions

What is the Normal Stress formula?
Stress is force per unit area acting on a material. It sits under Statics, Mechanical engineering in the EngiRef reference.
What do the symbols in the Normal Stress formula mean?
In Normal Stress, σ is stress in Pa; F is force in N; A is area in m².
When does the Normal Stress formula apply?
Normal Stress holds under this condition: Valid for uniform stress distribution over the cross-section.