What term describes the tension at which a material is expected to break?

The term that describes the tension at which a material is expected to break is breaking strength. This is a critical property of materials, indicating the maximum stress or load that a material can withstand before failure occurs. Understanding breaking strength is vital in rigging and hoisting, as it helps ensure that materials and equipment are not subjected to forces that could exceed their limits, potentially leading to accidents or equipment failure.

Load capacity refers to the maximum load a structure or a piece of equipment can safely handle but does not specifically denote the point of failure. Safety factor is a design consideration that provides a margin of safety beyond the expected loads, while tensile strength measures a material's ability to resist being pulled apart, which is related but distinct from breaking strength. Recognizing breaking strength is crucial for ensuring safety and reliability in lifting operations, making it the most appropriate term in this context.