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Tensile test

The tensile test is a test method within mechanical materials testing, used for the determination of material characteristics. Depending on the material, the test is used in accordance with the respective industry standard for determination of the yield strength, tensile strength, strain at break and other material properties.

In the tensile test a material specimen is strained until it breaks. The applied strain rate must be low, so that the result is not distorted. During the tensile test the force and extension of the specimen are measured.

Next to hardness measurement, tensile tests are one of the most frequently performed tests in mechanical materials testing. They are used to characterize the strength and deformation behavior under tensile load.

Uses Differentiation by load Differentiation by material Testing machines Other tests

Tensile test characteristic values

Tensile Strength
Maximum mechanical tensile stress
to Tensile Strength
Yield Point
The end of the elastic behavior
to Yield Point
Strain at break
Evaluation of the deformation behavior
to Strain at break
Reduction of area
to Reduction of area

Tensile test – purpose and meaning

Tensile tests are performed

  • On machined thin specimens for determination of the material behavior under uniaxial tensile load uniformly distributed over the cross section
  • On notched specimens for the simulation of multi-axial stress states—notch tensile test
  • On products such as wires, yarns, films, ropes, shaped elements, components and component assemblies—which from here on out will be referred to as

 

During a tensile test the material behavior is examined

  • Under continually increasing (smooth) load – classic quasi-static tensile test
  • Under constant static load – creep tensile test
  • Under alternating load for determination of the cyclic stress­strain curve –LCF (Low Cycle Fatigue)
  • At room temperature (10 to 35 °C)
  • At elevated temperatures (to far over 1000 °C)
  • At low temperatures (down to -269 °C)
  • At very low test speeds – creep tests, or also
  • At elevated test speeds – high-speed tensile tests

 

The characteristic values determined with the tensile test are

  • The foundation for the calculation and dimensioning of statically loaded components and structures
  • Needed for the characterization of the processing behavior of the materials
  • Used during quality control for the determination of production uniformity
  • Used during material selection for comparison between materials and material conditions

Differentiation of Tensile Test According to Temporal Progression of the Load

In general a distinction is made between tensile tests with static, quasi-static, cyclic and impact loading.

Normally, a load is considered to be static when the material is subjected to an inactive constant load. In a classic tensile test the load is steadily increasing and applied smoothly (quasi-static). The upper limit for quasi-static test methods lies at a deformation speed of approximately 10-1s-1, therefore the maximum increase (e.g. of the strain) cannot be more than 0.1 % per second.

Differentiation of Tensile Test According to Material to be Tested

The tensile test is a standardized material testing procedure, which is subject to different requirements depending on the material/industry.

Our industry experts know these requirements and are happy to help with the configuration of the testing systems to meet your individual testing needs.

In the following list you will find examples of various descriptions of tensile tests in a wide range of industries.

Testing Machines for Tensile Tests

Other Tests

Fatigue test
Definition and description
to Fatigue test
Hardness testing and hardness testing methods
to Hardness testing and hardness testing methods
Impact Testing
to Impact Testing
Drop weight test
to Drop weight test
Biaxial Test
to Biaxial Test
Test methods for sheet metal forming
to Test methods for sheet metal forming
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