The basic mechanical properties of materials such as hardness, ductility and strength depend on their internal structure. For this reason, the internal structure and properties of materials should be well known. The determination of these properties can be made by some mechanical experiments.

The tensile and compressive strengths of materials are determined by their resistance to applied loads. The strength of the materials against breaking is determined by the resistance they show against the applied impacts. The resistance of the materials against bending is determined by the resistance they show against the force applied between the two support parts.