The principle describes a relationship between strain rate and stress within a material undergoing plastic deformation. Specifically, it posits that the flow stress of a material increases with an increasing rate at which it is deformed. For example, metals forged at high speeds exhibit higher resistance to deformation compared to those forged slowly.
This behavior is crucial in understanding material response under dynamic loading conditions, such as impacts or explosions. Its consideration is essential for accurate modeling and prediction of material behavior in manufacturing processes, structural design, and safety analysis. This understanding developed from experimental observations examining material responses under varying deformation speeds.
