This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Home » ENGINEERING CONCEPTS: Relationship Between Hardness and Strength
Hardness tests often are used to quantify strength and are considered to be nondestructive in most applications because the indentations are small and do not adversely affect surface quality. In the case of steel, there is a common relationship between the Brinell hardness number (BHN) and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) given in pounds force per square inch (psi), or MPa:
UTS(psi)=500BHN
It often is assumed that this relationship is only valid for tempered martensitic structures. However, similar relationships can be shown for brass, aluminum and cast irons. A relationship between yield strength and hardness usually is not shown, and it may be instructive, and perhaps surprising, to show that these relationships have a theoretical basis.