STRAIN
Charles François (2004). STRAIN, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 3214.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3214 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Human sciences |
The state of a system submitted to stress.
Strain can be sustained merely up to some specific limits. For instance, stress applied by stretching a metal bar, may, according to the force applied:
- when slight, have no visible effects;
- when stronger, induce a permanent deformation;
- when very strong, make it suddenly snap. (“The last straw that broke the camel's back”).
Analogically, living systems and organizations, when submitted to stress and suffering strain, may react in the same ways.
It could be said that constraints are permanent strains to which a specific system has adapted permanently.