Terminology: The permissible design stress to which a structural member may be subjected in service (based on the chosen design philosophy and partial/overall safety factors) is commonly called ________.

Introduction / Context:
Engineers distinguish between material strengths (yield, ultimate) and the allowable stress used for design under expected service conditions. In traditional working-stress design, members are proportioned so that service stresses do not exceed a specified allowable value, sometimes called the working or permissible stress.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• General structural member under service loads.
• Terminology sought for the permissible (allowable) stress level used in design checks.
• Context fits classic working-stress approach; concept also maps to design-strength limits in limit-state methods via factors.

Concept / Approach:

Working stress is the allowable service stress derived by applying a factor of safety to a reference strength (often yield for ductile metals). Under limit-state design, we often check serviceability using combinations that keep service stresses/deflections within acceptable limits; the historical term remains useful in exams and practice discussions.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Textbooks consistently define working stress as the allowable stress at service loads, typically equal to yield stress divided by factor of safety for ductile metals in the older design method.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Bearing, tensile, compressive, buckling stresses: these describe types of stresses, not the allowable design limit itself.

Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing “design strength” (limit-state) with “working stress” (service-level allowable) without noting the methodology.

Final Answer:

Working stress.