Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator
Strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight — the Ashby selection numbers.
Surprise: steel, aluminium and titanium all have E/ρ ≈ 25–26 — equal-MASS beams of each are equally stiff! Specific STRENGTH is where Ti and composites pull away.
Formula
Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator is a free specific strength for design engineers, metallurgists and QA inspectors — instant, accurate and 100% client-side, with the governing formula and reference shown next to the result so the number can be defended, not just quoted.
About Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator
Strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight — the Ashby selection numbers. The calculation implements σ/ρ and E/ρ (Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design). Surprise: steel, aluminium and titanium all have E/ρ ≈ 25–26 — equal-MASS beams of each are equally stiff! Specific STRENGTH is where Ti and composites pull away.
How to use Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator
- 1Enter Strength in MPa.
- 2Enter Modulus E in GPa.
- 3Enter Density in kg/m³.
- 4Read Specific strength, Specific stiffness instantly — no submit button needed.
Why use Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator?
- ✓Implements the standard formula — σ/ρ and E/ρ
- ✓Reference cited on-page: Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design
- ✓Live worked example: the substitution recomputes from your numbers
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser — nothing uploaded, free forever
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator use?+
It computes σ/ρ and E/ρ, per Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design. The formula is displayed under the result along with a worked example substituted with your own inputs.
What should I keep in mind when using this calculator?+
Surprise: steel, aluminium and titanium all have E/ρ ≈ 25–26 — equal-MASS beams of each are equally stiff! Specific STRENGTH is where Ti and composites pull away.
Where do the material property defaults come from?+
Defaults are standard handbook values (ASM, manufacturer datasheets, the cited standard). Always substitute certified values from your material's test certificate for critical work.
Is the Specific Strength & Stiffness Calculator free to use?+
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, no limits. It runs client-side in your browser, so inputs stay private and results are instant even on slow connections.
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