Impact Loading — Property Definition The ability of a material to resist fracture when subjected to high impact or shock loads is called:

Introduction / Context:
Designers must distinguish among mechanical properties to ensure safe, reliable components. Impact-prone applications such as tools, automotive components, and structural members in seismic zones require materials that absorb energy without fracturing. This question clarifies the property name associated with resistance to sudden loads.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Impact or shock loading scenarios are considered.
• Standard property definitions from materials science apply.
• No specific material system is required; the concept is general.

Concept / Approach:
Toughness is the capacity of a material to absorb energy up to fracture, commonly assessed by Charpy or Izod impact tests and represented by the area under the stress–strain curve. It requires both strength and ductility. Strength alone (high ultimate stress) does not guarantee toughness if elongation is low, and stiffness (modulus) is independent of failure mechanisms. Brittleness is the opposite of toughness—fracture occurs with minimal plastic deformation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify key requirement: survive high-rate loading without fracturing.Map to property: toughness quantifies energy absorption before fracture.Therefore, the correct term is toughness.Corollary: tough materials typically show higher impact energies and greater ductility at service temperature.

Verification / Alternative check:
Impact testing standards (e.g., Charpy V-notch) directly report absorbed energy, an indicator of toughness; ductile-to-brittle transition in BCC steels highlights how temperature alters toughness.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Strength: resistance to permanent deformation or failure under static loads, not necessarily impact.
• Stiffness: elastic response (modulus), unrelated to fracture toughness.
• Brittleness: propensity to fracture with little plastic deformation, the inverse concept.

Common Pitfalls:
Using “strong” and “tough” interchangeably; a glass can be strong yet brittle, failing catastrophically under impact.

Final Answer:
toughness