Mechanical stress, to which design elements are generally exposed, generates stresses in the affected component or the material. If these stresses are too large, there is plastic deformation of the material in addition to the elastic, reversible deformation. The component does not return fully to its original form after the deformation, resulting in a change of shape.

The beam studied in SE 110.48 is mounted on both sides. A movable and a fixed support are included in the scope of delivery to secure the beam. The beam is loaded with a point load. The load application device can be positioned anywhere on the frame. A dial gauge records the deformation. Beams of different materials and profiles are included in the scope of delivery.
The transition from elastic to plastic deformation is observed and determined in the experiment. The values obtained are used to create a load–extension diagram, in which the nonlinear behaviour of the deformation is demonstrated.

The parts of the experiment are laid out clearly and housed securely in a storage system. The entire experimental setup is constructed in the SE 112 mounting frame.