What is the measure of the ability of a material to bend without breaking?

• A. Flexural strength
• B. Tensile strength
• C. Compressive strength
• D. Shear strength

Answer: (A)

Flexural strength describes a material’s resistance to bending and its ability to resist fracture when a bending moment is applied. It’s measured with bending tests (like three-point or four-point bending) and represents the stress in the outer fibers of a beam as it bends, where tension and compression occur on opposite faces. This makes it the best measure for how well a material can bend without breaking.

Tensile strength, by contrast, is the capacity to withstand pulling forces along the length until it breaks. Compressive strength is the capacity to withstand squeezing forces along the length. Shear strength is the resistance to sliding failure along a plane. For components that experience bending, such as pipes, supports, or fittings under load, flexural strength is the most relevant property.