critical loadn.

1879 W. C. Kernot in Trans. & Proc. Royal Soc. Victoria 15 20 The term breaking load as applied to long columns appears to me objectionable and likely to lead to confusion, not being properly analogous to that of tension rods and beams. I would suggest the term ‘critical load’ as preferable, on the analogy of the ‘critical angle’ in optics.

1951 J. Lewin Considerations Choice Working Stresses (Assoc. Engin. & Shipbuilding Draughtsmen) i. 23 The axial load which just induces this condition of elastic instability is known as the critical load, the buckling load or the Euler load.

2016 J. M. Galvin Ground Engin. vii. 293/1 This feature can be very important when the roof is subjected to lateral load since it reduces the eccentricity of the loading system, thereby increasing the critical load required to cause the roof to buckle.

1978 W. Rast & G. F. Lee Summary Anal. N. Amer. (U.S. Portion) OECD Eutrophication Project viii. 187 There are a number of potential problems involved in attempting to use a direct proportion between nitrogen and phosphorus critical loads, the most important of which would occur in highly eutrophic lakes.

1989 Internat. Environmental Affairs 1 268 Scientists from 11 countries have made considerable progress in defining ecological tolerances or critical load to pollution for sulfur and nitrogen for soil.

2020 Independent (Nexis) 20 Mar. A quarter of open habitats within Scotland's Important Plant Areas have exceeded their critical load—the point at which nitrogen harms habitats.