Which property of metals is most commonly tested with a tensile test?

The property of metals that is most commonly tested with a tensile test is yield strength. A tensile test involves applying a uniaxial load to a sample material until it deforms or fractures, allowing for the measurement of how much stress the material can withstand before plastic deformation begins. Yield strength specifically indicates the stress at which a material begins to deform plastically. This is crucial for engineers and designers as it helps determine the safe load limits that the material can support in various applications without permanent deformation.

The tensile test also provides additional useful data, such as ultimate tensile strength and elongation, but yield strength is particularly significant because it indicates the transition point between elastic behavior, where the material will return to its original shape, and plastic behavior, where the material will undergo permanent deformation.