From the uniaxial tensile test, one can understand material behavior considerabl

y. Form
the tensile test data, we can determine flow stress, though this method has limi
tations
due to localized deformation called necking.
Flow curve is the stress-strain curve for a material in the plastic
range. It describes
material behavior in metal forming. From flow curve, we can determine the flow s
tress
as
s = ke
where e is maximum strain during deformation process and n is strain
hardening exponent.
n
In forming processes, such as forging, the instantaneous flow stress can be foun
d from
the flow curve, as the stress required to cause a given strain or deformation.