Under what conditions can a material be subjected to stress without deforming permanently?

A material can be subjected to stress without deforming permanently when the stress is applied within the elastic limit. The elastic limit is the maximum stress that a material can withstand without undergoing permanent deformation. When a material is stressed within this limit, it will return to its original shape and dimensions once the load is removed. This behavior is described by Hooke's Law, which states that the strain in a material is proportional to the applied stress, as long as the elastic limit is not exceeded.

When stress exceeds the yield point, on the other hand, the material begins to deform permanently, leading to structural changes that do not revert once the load is removed. The other options, such as temperature rise or tensile strength, do not specifically address the condition under which a material retains its shape under stress. Thus, remaining within the elastic limit is critical for ensuring that the material does not lose its original properties after the stress is applied.