Poisson's ratio

American  

Or Poisson ratio

noun

Physics.

1. the ratio, in an elastic body under longitudinal stress, of the transverse strain to the longitudinal strain.

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Poisson's ratio British  

noun

1. μ, ν. a measure of the elastic properties of a material expressed as the ratio of the fractional contraction in breadth to the fractional increase in length when the material is stretched

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Etymology

Origin of Poisson's ratio

First recorded in 1925–30; see origin at Poisson distribution

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Poisson's ratio

Even though the inner core is solid, it behaves like a softened metal, slowing seismic shear waves and displaying a Poisson's ratio more similar to butter than to steel.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 10, 2025

Most materials have a positive Poisson's ratio, which means squeezing them in one direction will make them wider and/or thicker in other directions.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2024

Another way of expressing Poisson's ratio is that it describes the relationship between shape and volume when one of these changes.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2024

The behavior of elastic materials is partially described by Poisson's ratio, which explains how the material changes shape when you stretch or squeeze it in one direction.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 4, 2024

Again, Mr. Godfrey seems to misunderstand the influence of Poisson's ratio in multiple-way reinforcement.

From Some Mooted Questions in Reinforced Concrete Design American Society of Civil Engineers, Transactions, Paper No. 1169, Volume LXX, Dec. 1910 by Edward Godfrey

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