Most often the term stress analysis is applied to mathematical or computational methods applied to structures that do not yet exist, such as a proposed aerodynamic structure, or to large structures such as a building, a machine, a reactor vessel or a piping system.

A stress analysis can also be made by actually applying the force(s) to an existing element or structure and then determining the resulting stress using sensors, but in this case the process would more properly be known as testing (destructive or non-destructive). In this case special equipment, such as a wind tunnel, or various hydraulic mechanisms, or simply weights are used to apply the static or dynamic loading.