Which material property is characterized by the amount of energy per unit volume that is absorbed by the material?

The property characterized by the amount of energy per unit volume that a material can absorb before it fails is toughness. Toughness is a crucial aspect in materials engineering as it indicates how much energy a material can withstand without fracturing. It combines both strength and ductility, meaning that a tough material can endure significant stress and deformation before it breaks.

In practical applications, toughness is important for materials that are subject to dynamic loads or impacts, such as in construction materials, tools, and safety equipment. It ensures that a material can absorb shocks without catastrophic failure, thus enhancing safety and longevity.

The other properties mentioned do not relate to energy absorption in the same way. For instance, yield strength refers to the maximum stress that a material can withstand while still deforming elastically, after which it begins to deform plastically. Brittleness describes a material's tendency to fracture without significant deformation, and fatigue limit is the maximum stress that a material can withstand cyclically without failing. None of these properties encompass the energy absorption aspect inherent in toughness.