Knowledge Centre

Tensile Testing/Tension Testing

Mechanical Tests are performed on a material or product in order to determine its behaviour when subjected to an applied force or load.  The data produced in such a test can be used in many ways including:

• To determine batch quality
• To determine consistency in manufacture
• To aid in the design process
• To test strength of bonded surfaces

Tensile testing is one of the simplest and most common of mechanical tests.  By determining the force required to elongate a specimen to breaking point, material properties can be determined that will allow designers and quality managers to predict how materials and products will behave in their intended applications.

Why do we perform Tensile Testing?

Many performance parameters can be measured by a well executed tensile test.  The resulting data – a curve of force vs extension – shows the tensile profile of the test up to the point where the specimen breaks.  Along this tensile profile there are many points of interest, chief among them the elastic limit and force to break or failure point.

Understanding the results.

Results from tensile testing should be clear and free from extraneous information that may detract from the results of interest.  To facilitate custom presentation, calculations and reporting, results should be portable between software applications such as Microsoft Excel®.  From simple test stand and gauge combinations up to fully automated systems powered by Emperor®, Mecmesin test machines offer varying grades of sophistication for collection, presentation, interrogation and export of results.

Types of Tensile Test include:

• Crimp joint testing
• Peel testing
• Tear Testing

Benefits of Tensile Testing

• Ensuring the integrity and safety of products
• Ensuring components, materials and products are fit-for-purpose
• Reducing material costs and achieving lean manufacturing goals
• Compliance with industry standards

Tensile Testing Standards

There are a vast number of tensile testing standards developed by organisation such as ASTM, BSI, DIN, ISO and MIL.  Commonly used test standards include:

• ASTM B913, ASTM D76, ASTM D1876, ASTM D3822, ASTM D412, ASTM D638, ASTM D828, ASTM E8
• BS 5G 178, BS EN 1895
• ISO 37, ISO 527, ISO 1924, ISO 13934
• MIL-C-39029, MIL-T-7928

To find out more about tensile testing register for our MyMecmesin portal to download our detailed white paper on tensile testing or visit see our test solutions section for more information on Mecmesin's range of tensile testers.