How is Flexural Strength defined?

Flexural strength is defined as the ability of a material to withstand rupture or failure when subjected to bending loads. This property is crucial in assessing how materials, such as those used in construction or manufacturing, will perform when they encounter forces that attempt to bend them.

Understanding flexural strength is important because it informs engineers and builders about the structural integrity of materials in applications where bending occurs. For example, beams, slabs, and other structural elements must resist bending stresses to maintain safety and functionality.

The other options address different material properties—chemical resistance, compressive strength, and thermal stress resistance—none of which pertain specifically to how materials respond to bending forces. Thus, understanding flexural strength specifically aids in designing structures that can effectively handle bending stresses without failure.