Elastic Modulus
Engineering Fundamentals · Mechanical Engineering · Biomedical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Elastic modulus is a material property that measures stiffness, defined as the ratio of stress to strain within the elastic deformation region. It quantifies a material's resistance to being deformed elastically when a force is applied.
Example in context
“The bridge design requires a material with a high elastic modulus to limit deflection under load.”
“Köprü tasarımı, yük altında sekmeyi sınırlamak için yüksek elastisite modülüne sahip bir malzeme gerektirir.”
Where engineers use it
Elastic modulus appears in stress-strain diagrams, material selection for structural components, and finite element analysis. Engineers use it to predict deformation and ensure designs remain within elastic limits.
Synonyms: Young's modulus, modulus of elasticity
Antonyms: compliance
In Mechanical Engineering
A measure of a material's stiffness, defined as the ratio of stress to strain within the elastic region. It is also known as Young's modulus.
“The elastic modulus of steel is approximately 200 GPa, which makes it a stiff material for structural applications.”
In Biomedical Engineering
The ratio of stress to strain within the linear elastic region of a material, quantifying its resistance to reversible deformation. A large mismatch between implant and bone stiffness produces stress shielding and adaptive bone loss.
“Because the elastic modulus of the titanium stem is roughly five times that of cortical bone, the design team expected measurable stress shielding.”
Practice: can you use “Elastic Modulus” at work?
You are choosing a steel alloy for a high-load chassis. Compare candidate alloys based on their elastic modulus and explain why modulus matters for stiffness.
Show a model answer
“Select a material with an elastic modulus above 200 GPa for this application.”
“Elastic Modulus” in 21 languages
| English | Elastic Modulus |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Elastisite Modülü |
| French | Module d'élasticité |
| German | Elastizitätsmodul |
| Spanish | Módulo de elasticidad |
| Chinese | 弹性模量 |
| Arabic | معامل المرونة |
| Portuguese | Módulo de elasticidade |
| Russian | Модуль упругости |
| Japanese | 弾性係数 |
| Italian | Modulo di elasticità |
| Vietnamese | Mô đun đàn hồi |
| Hindi | प्रत्यास्थता मापांक |
| Thai | โมดูลัสยืดหยุ่น |
| Indonesian | Modulus Elastisitas |
| Korean | 탄성계수 |
| Bengali | স্থিতিস্থাপক মডুলাস |
| Dutch | Elasticiteitsmodulus |
| Swedish | Elasticitetsmodul |
| Finnish | Kimmokerroin |
| Ukrainian | Модуль пружності |
Frequently asked questions
What does Elastic Modulus mean in engineering?
Elastic modulus is a material property that measures stiffness, defined as the ratio of stress to strain within the elastic deformation region. It quantifies a material's resistance to being deformed elastically when a force is applied. In Engineering Fundamentals, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Elastic Modulus?
Elastic Modulus is pronounced /ɪˈlæstɪk ˈmɒdʒʊləs/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Elastic Modulus used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The bridge design requires a material with a high elastic modulus to limit deflection under load.”
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