Tensile Strength
Elongation At Beak
Secant Modulus
Youngs Modulus
Tear Resistance
Flexural Modulus
Flexural Strength
Peel Strength
Compressive Strength
Yield Strength
Elongation at Yield
Elastic Limit
0.2% Proof Strength
Measuring the mechanical strength of materials and finished products is key to understanding the potential performance of your product. I can also demonstrate potential design weaknesses and faulty or inferior materials selection.
We have a range of in house testing capabilities for mechanical strength testing of materials. Typically this involves tensile strength and elongation at break measurements but can also include flexural strength (bend testing), modulus (stiffness), tear resistance, peel strength and compressive strength measurements.
We have small tensile testing machines for maximum loads of between 50 kgs and 500 kgs and test speeds of 1-500 mm/min. These machines are ideally suited to polymeric materials, plastics, rubbers, fibres and textile materials.
We also have larger tensile testing machines with capability of 5 Tonne maximum load and 0.5-500mm/min test speeds that can be used in compression and tensile mode. One of our larger machines is also capable of doing large span flexural bend testing e.g. bend testing of laminated window screen samples or large panel composite flex testing.
The result of a mechanical strength test is normally a stress strain curve or load deflection cure. We will normally provide this as part of your test report. However, most clients are interested in a specific measurement such as "Ultimate Tensile Strength" or "Modulus". This data will be calculated for you and also detailed in your test report.
Stress vs. Strain curve for structural steel. Reference numbers are:
1 - Ultimate Strength
2 - Yield Strength(elastic limit)
3 - Rupture
4 - Strain hardening region
5 - Necking region
A: Apparent stress (F/A0)
B: Actual stress (F/A)
Image courtesy of wikipedia
If you are developing a new product design and do not have any specific product specifications we can recommend potential types of mechanical testing that should be considered as part of your product approval process. This helps highlight any potential weak spots at an early part in your design process and helps prevent potential in service failures.
We can prepare most samples for testing in house. Standard 75mm dumbbell samples are used for most plastic testing but alternatives can be machined or made to order. Call and discuss your requirements with us and we can recommend the most suitable method of test.