When tensile stress is applied on a beam axially. What happens?*

When tensile stress is applied axially to a beam, the following occurs:

1. Elongation: The beam tends to elongate or stretch in the direction of the applied force. This is due to the nature of tensile stress, which pulls materials apart.

2. Strain: As the beam elongates, it experiences strain. Strain is the deformation of the beam measured by the change in length divided by the original length.

3. Stress Distribution: The stress is uniformly distributed across the cross-section of the beam if the material is homogeneous and the load is uniformly applied.

4. Potential Failure: If the tensile stress exceeds the tensile strength of the material from which the beam is made, the beam can fail or break.

5. Elastic Deformation: If the applied stress is within the elastic limit of the material, the beam will return to its original shape and size once the stress is removed.

6. Plastic Deformation: If the stress exceeds the elastic limit but is less than the ultimate tensile strength, the beam will undergo plastic deformation and will not return to its original shape and size even after the stress is removed.

7. Necking: Just before the failure, the beam might undergo a localized reduction in cross-section, known as necking.

8. Fracture: If the tensile stress continues to increase beyond the ultimate tensile strength, the beam will eventually fracture or break.