
Poisson's ratio is a fundamental characteristic in material models that measures the Poisson effect, which is the phenomenon where a material expands in directions perpendicular to the direction of compression. It is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain under uniaxial stress. While Poisson's ratio is commonly assumed to be constant in the elastic and plastic regions, there is debate over its validity in the plastic region. This is because, in the plastic region, the material fails to obey Hooke's law, and the volume is ideally conserved, rendering Poisson's ratio irrelevant. However, some sources suggest that the Poisson ratio evolves in the transition from the elastic to the plastic region and can be measured in the plastic region using methods like digital image correlation (DIC).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The Poisson ratio v is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain, for the case of uniaxial stress. |
| Plastic Region | In the plastic region (beyond elastic limit), the volume of a component subjected to external forces or loads remains ideally conserved. |
| Poisson Ratio Validity | In the plastic region, the material fails to obey Hooke's law and the Poisson ratio doesn't come into the picture. The Poisson ratio is not applicable in plastic deformation as the volume is conserved. |
| Engineering Practice | In engineering practice, Poisson's ratio values are assumed to be constant in the elastic and plastic regions. |
| Common Materials | Most materials have Poisson's ratio values ranging between 0.0 and 0.5. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Poisson ratio is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain
- The plastic Poisson's ratio characterises an isotropic deformation of material
- In the plastic region, the volume of a component subjected to external forces remains conserved
- Poisson's ratio is a measure of the Poisson effect, the phenomenon where a material expands in directions perpendicular to compression
- In engineering practice, Poisson's ratio values are assumed to be constant in the plastic region. Deviations from the conventional value have been observed in the large plastic deformation region

The Poisson ratio is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain
Poisson's ratio, named after the French mathematician and physicist Siméon Poisson, is a fundamental concept in materials science and solid mechanics. It is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain for the case of uniaxial stress. In simpler terms, it describes how a material tends to expand or contract in the direction perpendicular to the specific direction of loading or compression.
Mathematically, Poisson's ratio (usually denoted by ν or nu) is expressed as the ratio of transverse contraction strain to longitudinal extension strain in the direction of the applied force. When a material is stretched or compressed, it undergoes both transverse and longitudinal deformations, and Poisson's ratio quantifies the relationship between these two types of strains. A positive Poisson's ratio indicates that a material contracts in the transverse direction when stretched longitudinally, while a negative Poisson's ratio suggests the opposite—the material expands in the transverse direction when stretched longitudinally.
The value of Poisson's ratio varies for different materials. Most materials have Poisson's ratio values ranging between 0.0 and 0.5. For example, highly elastic materials like rubber typically have a Poisson's ratio close to 0.5, while metals like stainless steel often exhibit a Poisson's ratio of around 0.3. On the other hand, materials such as cork have a Poisson's ratio of nearly zero, indicating minimal lateral deformation when subjected to axial loads.
Poisson's ratio is an essential parameter in engineering and design. Engineers use it to determine how much a material can be stretched or compressed before it fails. By considering the expected dimensional changes of a material under load, engineers can design structures that are safe and functional. Additionally, Poisson's ratio plays a role in understanding the behaviour of materials during tensile and compression testing. For example, in a tensile test, transverse strain is considered negative lateral deformation, while axial strain is considered positive longitudinal deformation.
While most materials exhibit positive Poisson's ratios, there are certain rare cases where materials display negative Poisson's ratios. For instance, some crystalline materials, such as Li, Na, K, Cu, Rb, Ag, Fe, Ni, Co, Cs, Au, Be, Ca, and Zn, exhibit negative Poisson's ratios. In these materials, the unique structure of their molecular bonds allows them to expand in the transverse direction when stretched longitudinally. This behaviour is known as auxeticity, and it has intriguing applications in the development of advanced materials.
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The plastic Poisson's ratio characterises an isotropic deformation of material
Poisson's ratio is a fundamental metric in materials science and solid mechanics that quantifies the Poisson effect, which describes the deformation of a material in directions perpendicular to the specific direction of loading. In mathematical terms, Poisson's ratio is defined as the negative ratio of transverse (or lateral) strain to longitudinal (or axial) strain. This ratio typically ranges from −1.0 to 0.5 for stable, isotropic, linear elastic materials.
The plastic Poisson's ratio, denoted as νP, specifically characterises an isotropic deformation of a material. It is a critical parameter in engineering analysis, particularly when determining the stress and deflection properties of structures such as beams, plates, shells, and rotating discs. Poisson's ratio is essential for understanding the behaviour of plastics, metals, and other materials under various loading conditions.
The value of the plastic Poisson's ratio provides insights into the material's response to deformation. For instance, a low Poisson's ratio indicates that the material is more prone to fracturing, while a high Poisson's ratio suggests greater resistance to fracture. This property is crucial in applications such as hydraulic fracturing, where lower Poisson's ratios are desirable for specific rock formations.
The plastic Poisson's ratio also plays a significant role in the design and analysis of three-dimensional structures. When working with plastics, factors like temperature changes, loading directions, and the magnitude of stresses and strains can influence the Poisson's ratio. While these factors may not substantially impact practical calculations, they are essential considerations in certain engineering contexts.
Additionally, the plastic Poisson's ratio is relevant in the production of microcellular materials. By inducing buckling or precompressing normal microcellular materials, it is possible to create auxetic porous metals with unique mechanical characteristics. This process involves predeforming the material well into the plastic regime, resulting in bent or wiggled struts within its structure.
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In the plastic region, the volume of a component subjected to external forces remains conserved
Poisson's ratio is a fundamental concept in materials science and solid mechanics that quantifies the Poisson effect, which is the deformation (expansion or contraction) of a material in directions perpendicular to the specific direction of loading. In simpler terms, it is the ratio of relative contraction to relative expansion. For example, when a rubber band is stretched, it becomes thinner in the direction perpendicular to the stretch. The value of Poisson's ratio is the negative ratio of transverse strain to axial strain.
Poisson's ratio is applicable in the elastic region, where it is used to determine elastic strains. Within the elastic limit, the volume of a component subjected to various stresses remains conserved, and Poisson's ratio is not required to determine the volumetric strain. However, in the plastic region, where materials fail to obey Hooke's law, the volume of a component subjected to external forces or loads is ideally conserved, and Poisson's ratio does not come into the picture.
The plastic Poisson's ratio, denoted as νP, characterises an isotropic deformation of material. Isotropic materials exhibit identical properties in all directions. The Poisson's ratio of a stable, isotropic, linear elastic material typically falls within the range of −1.0 to +0.5. Most materials have Poisson's ratio values ranging between 0.0 and 0.5. For soft materials, such as rubber, the Poisson's ratio is near 0.5.
While the volume is generally conserved in the plastic region, there may be exceptions. For instance, in the context of an ingot from a melt shop, there can be an initial reduction in volume due to the presence of micro or macro voids from the foundry. However, after this initial phase, the volume tends to remain constant.
In summary, Poisson's ratio is a critical parameter for understanding and predicting the behaviour of materials under loading conditions. It plays a significant role in the elastic region, aiding in the calculation of elastic strains. While volume conservation in the plastic region does not rely on Poisson's ratio, it is still an essential aspect of material behaviour beyond the elastic limit.
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Poisson's ratio is a measure of the Poisson effect, the phenomenon where a material expands in directions perpendicular to compression
Poisson's ratio, typically denoted by the symbol ν (nu), is a dimensionless measure of the Poisson effect. The Poisson effect is a phenomenon observed in materials subjected to deformation or stress. When compressed, a material with the Poisson effect tends to expand in directions perpendicular to the direction of compression. Conversely, when stretched, it contracts in the transverse direction.
Mathematically, Poisson's ratio is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain under uniaxial stress. In simpler terms, it is the ratio of transverse contraction strain to longitudinal extension strain in the direction of the applied force. This ratio is typically between −1.0 and +0.5 for stable, isotropic, linear elastic materials. Most materials have Poisson's ratio values ranging from 0.0 to 0.5. Soft materials, like rubber, tend to have Poisson's ratios closer to 0.5, while open-cell polymer foams are near zero.
The Poisson effect is observable in various materials, including rocks and rubber bands. For instance, when a rubber band is stretched, it becomes thinner, exhibiting the Poisson effect. Similarly, when a cork is inserted into a bottle, it undergoes radial compression, but its upper part does not expand in diameter due to its Poisson ratio of zero. On the other hand, if the stopper were made of rubber (Poisson ratio of about +0.5), there would be significant resistance due to the radial expansion of the upper part.
Poisson's ratio is an important parameter in engineering, particularly in aerospace applications. It helps engineers understand and design materials that can withstand specific stress conditions. For example, in hydraulic fracturing, rocks with lower Poisson's ratios are preferred as they are easier to fracture. Additionally, Poisson's ratio is used to characterise isotropic deformation in the plastic Poisson's ratio, νP.
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In engineering practice, Poisson's ratio values are assumed to be constant in the plastic region. Deviations from the conventional value have been observed in the large plastic deformation region
Poisson's ratio is a fundamental characteristic in material models used in engineering practice. It is a measure of the Poisson effect, the phenomenon in which a material expands in directions perpendicular to the direction of compression. Conversely, when stretched, the material contracts in the directions transverse to the stretch.
The Poisson ratio is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain for the case of uniaxial stress. It is denoted by the symbol ν (nu) and is a critical parameter in solid mechanics and materials science. For most materials, the Poisson's ratio falls between 0 and 0.5. For soft materials, like rubber, where the bulk modulus is much higher than the shear modulus, the Poisson's ratio is approximately 0.5.
In engineering practice, it is commonly assumed that Poisson's ratio remains constant in both the elastic and plastic regions. In the elastic region, steel materials typically use a value of ν = 0.27–0.3, with 0.3 being the most common, while in the plastic region, the value is assumed to be 0.5. However, it is important to note that the Poisson ratio does not apply in plastic deformation, where the material fails to obey Hooke's law.
Despite these assumptions, deviations from the conventionally used values have been observed in the large plastic deformation region. This indicates the need for a refinement of material models in this area. The evolution of the Poisson ratio value during the transition from the elastic to the plastic region, as well as in regions of large plastic deformations, has been documented using non-contact strain measurements with the DIC (digital image correlation) method.
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Frequently asked questions
Poisson's ratio is a measure of the Poisson effect, the phenomenon in which a material expands in directions perpendicular to the direction of compression. It is defined as the negative ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain.
No, Poisson's ratio does not apply in the plastic region. In the plastic region, the volume of a component subjected to external forces or loads remains ideally conserved.
In the plastic region, the Poisson's ratio of a material is assumed to be 0.5.




























