Bending Strength

When a beam is loaded and bent as shown, the inside of the bend is subjected to the maximum Compressive Stress and the outside the bend experiences the maximum Tensile Stress.

The distance of the Neutral Axis from the maximum stress (y) is half the depth for a uniform rectangular beam. This value is required when using the Simple Bending Equation to check if a beam can support a given load.

Since most materials fail under tension before they fail by compression, the Bending Strength (aka Flexural Strength) can usually be taken to be the same as the Tensile Strength.