Factors Affecting Strength of Materials

a) Type of loading:-
Type of loading has very significant effect on strength of materials.
  e.g

for a striaght bar of same material and same size (i.e same length, width and thickness), the load (W) bearing capacity will be higher in case (i) then that in case (ii)

b) Temperature:-
Temperature of material inversely affects its strength. Increase in temperature reduces the inter-molecular forces. Therefore the load bearing capacity of material reduces as the temperature is increased.