The von Mises stress is used as a yield criterion in structures, indicating the point at which plastic flow begins if local stress exceeds this value. In contrast, the maximum stress in a structure simply refers to the highest stress value observed. It is crucial that the maximum stress remains below the von Mises yield criterion to prevent plastic deformation. Additionally, the discussion touches on the relevance of von Mises stress in finite element analysis (FEA) and questions why it is preferred over principal stresses. The conversation also raises inquiries about the dependence of strain values on material properties such as elasticity and density.