Final answer:
c. Strain rate The most essential component to include when designing a work hardening program is the strain rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option c. Strain rate. The strain rate is a measure of how fast a material is deformed, which is crucial in the design of a work hardening program. Work hardening, also known as strain hardening, is a process that increases the hardness and strength of a material by plastic deformation.
This happens when a metal is subjected to stress beyond its elastic limit resulting in permanent deformation. When designing a work hardening program, one must consider the rate at which the material strain occurs, as this will influence how the material hardens.
A controlled strain rate ensures the process induces the desired amount of work hardening without causing unexpected failure or fracture of the material. Temperature control and material composition are also concerns, but the central aspect of work hardening is how the material is deformed—that is, the deformation or strain rate.