What is the overall force applied to a material or structure called?

The overall force applied to a material or structure is referred to as "load." This term encompasses any external forces acting on a system, which can include weight, tension, compression, or impact. Understanding the concept of load is fundamental in engineering and materials science, as it directly influences how materials behave under various conditions.

In structural analysis, loads can be categorized into different types, such as static loads (which do not change over time) and dynamic loads (which vary over time). The ability to accurately calculate and manage loads is critical to ensuring the safety and integrity of structures and components being designed.

Other terms presented, like mass, stress, and pressure, are distinct concepts. Mass refers to the quantity of matter within an object, while stress is defined as the internal resistance offered by a material when an external load is applied, represented as force per unit area. Pressure is the force exerted per unit area but typically refers to surfaces in contact, not the overall force on a structure. All these terms are essential in their contexts, but in the case of the overall force applied to a structure, "load" is the most appropriate terminology.