Tensile strength measures the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a

structural beam to the point where it breaks.

Specifically, the tensile strength of a material is the maximum amount of tensile stress that it
can be subjected to before failure. The definition of failure can vary according to material type
and design methodology. This is an important concept in engineering, especially in the fields
of material science, mechanical engineering and structural engineering.
There are three typical definitions of tensile strength:
* Yield strength - The stress a material can withstand without permanent deformation. For
materials without a clear distinct yield point, yield strength is usually stated as the stress at
which a permanent deformation of 0.2% of the original dimension will result, known as the
0.2% yield stress".
* Ultimate strength - The maximum stress a material can withstand.
* Breaking strength - The stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the point of rupture.
and
Yield strength, or the yield point, is defined in engineering and materials science as the
stress at which a material begins to plastically deform. Prior to the yield point the material will
deform elastically and will return to its original shape when the applied stress is removed.
Once the yield point is passed some fraction of the deformation will be permanent and nonreversible. Knowledge of the yield point is vital when designing a component since it
generally represents an upper limit to the load that can be applied. It is also important for the
control of many materials production techniques such as forging, rolling, or pressing
In structural engineering, yield is the permanent plastic deformation of a structural member
under stress. This is a soft failure mode which does not normally cause catastrophic failure
unless it accelerates buckling.
You could get more information from the 2 links below...

Source(s):http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensile_str...
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yield_stren...
catzpaw 9 years ago
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Usually tensile strength is referring to how much stress the object can take before it breaks. Yield strength
usually refers where the object starts becoming damaged. It will no longer rebound from the force.
Think of a spring. You pull the spring some, let go, then it returns to normal. It hasn't reached its yield
strength yet. You pull it further. It deforms and will no longer return to its original shape. You pulled it past
its yield strength. Then you pull it even harder. It breaks at its tensile strength.
Also, yielding is not only in tension, but in bending and compression also.
Cadair360 9 years ago
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Modulus is the ability of a material to resist stretching, compressing and shearing forces imposed on it by
exterior causes. The modulus defines the amount that the material will deform under such external forces
while retaining the memory of the original shape of the material. The material will return to its initial shape
when the forces are removed. The ability of the material to return to the initial shape breaks down at a
point called the yield stress point. If external forces deform the material past the yield strength point, the
material will be permanently deformed and will not return to its initial shape when the external forces are
removed. If the external forces drive the material past the tensile strength point of the material, it will
cause the material to break. Use these tips to learn how to calculate modulushttps://tr.im/GL8NM
Claretta 2 days ago
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Tensile strength : Upto which Hooke's law is followed

Yield Strength : Start of plastic region.
ag_iitkgp 9 years ago
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tensile strength= force/unit area required till fracture.

yield strength= force/unit area required to reach the point where sudden/rapid elongation commences.