Version 1.0, August 31, 2001, Copyright, Hugh Jack 1993-2001
· An isotropic material has the same properties in all directions. (materials such as fiber glass do not and are called anisotropic materials).
· When we apply a stress to an isotropic material in one direction, we induce stress in the perpendicular direction. The resulting ratio between perpendicular stresses, and strains, is called Poisson's Ratio
· In physical terms - as we stretch a bar, it becomes a bit thinner. Stretching of silly putty is a good visual example.
· Consider the simple example below,
