What term describes the ability of a material to deform plastically and to absorb energy prior to fracture?

The term that describes the ability of a material to deform plastically and absorb energy prior to fracture is toughness. Toughness is a critical property in materials engineering, as it indicates how well a material can withstand impacts and stresses without cracking or breaking. It essentially measures the material's capacity to endure both elastic and plastic deformations.

When a material is tough, it can absorb significant energy and undergo a considerable amount of plastic deformation before it finally fractures. This characteristic is especially important in applications where materials are subjected to dynamic loads, such as in construction, where unexpected forces can occur.

Strength, while related, specifically refers to a material's ability to withstand an applied load without failing. Flexibility pertains to the ability of a material to bend or flex without breaking, and durability refers to the material's ability to withstand wear and deterioration over time. However, these concepts do not fully encompass the energy absorption and plastic deformation that toughness describes.