What is a Tensile Test?

One of the most fundamental mechanical tests that can be performed on a material is the tensile test. A test sample is loaded in tension when it experiences opposing forces acting upon opposite faces both located on the same axis that attempt to pull the specimen apart. These tests are simple to setup and complete and reveal many characteristics of the material that is tested. Tensile tests are considered to be essentially the opposite of a compression test.

What is the Purpose of Tensile Testing?

Generally, a tensile test is designed to be run until the sample fails or breaks under the load. The values that may be measured from this type of test can range from but are not limited to tensile strength, ultimate strength, elongation, modulus of elasticity, yield strength, Poisson’s ratio, and strain hardening. The measurements taken during the test reveals the characteristics of a material while it is under a tensile load.

How to Perform a Tensile Test?

A tensile test is performed by loading the material to a positive force and then reducing the load to zero and repeating this process until the sample fails with the number of cycles till failure as the desired value to be measured. Tensile creep is similar to this except that the load is not altered but rather steadily applied until the sample fails.

What Are the Different Types of Tensile Tests?

There many different variants of tensile tests but a few of the more common tests are tension, tensile adhesion, tensile shear, tensile grab, tensile pulling, tension fatigue, and tensile creep. In most of these tests the specimen is loaded until it fails or fractures with the main difference in the type of specimen geometry and associated tensile test fixture used. Tension fatigue testing differs not only in the type of grip but also in the test machine type.

What Are the Different Types of Tensile Test Materials?

Nearly all materials can be tested in tension in one manner or another, but the more popular materials include metals, plastics, woods, polymers and textiles. The test sample often take the shapes of bars, strings, strands, coupons, dog bones, and dumbbells depending upon the material, the tensile grip, and test performed on the sample. Materials with high compressive strength values have relatively low tensile strength, such as brick and aerospace composites. These are not generally tested in tension as their applications do not normally require them to withstand tensile loads.


Ready to look at tensile test machines? Contact us by completing the form to help you select the right machine.

Ready to look at tensile test machines?

What Are the Common Tensile Testing Standards?

ASTM A370 Tensile Bend Strength Steel Test Equipment
ASTM A931 Steel Wire Rope Tension Test Equipment
ASTM A1044 Steel Stud Assemblies Test Machine
ASTM C1135 Tensile Adhesion Test Equipment
ASTM D143 Timber Clear Specimen Test Equipment
ASTM D1623 Tensile Adhesion of Rigid Cellular Plastic
ASTM D1708 Tensile Testing for Plastics and Microtensile Specimens
ASTM D2343 Tensile Glass Fiber Strands Yarns Rovings Testing Equipment
ASTM D3039 Tensile Testing for Advanced Composite Materials
ASTM D3759 Tensile and Elongation of Pressure-Sensitive Tapes
ASTM D4073 Tensile-Tear Tests of Bituminous Roofing Membranes
ASTM D412 - Tension Testing for Rubber and Elastomers
ASTM D4595 Wide-Width Tensile Test Equipment for Geotextiles
ASTM D4964 Tension and Elongation of Elastic Fabrics
ASTM D638 Tensile Testing for Plastics
ASTM D7205 Tensile Tests of GFRP Matrix Composite Bars
ASTM D828 Tensile Force Deflection of Paper and Paperboard
ASTM D882 Tensile Testing for Thin Plastic Sheeting
ASTM E21 Elevated Temperature Tension Tests of Metals
ASTM E8 Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
ISO 4587 Tensile Lap-Shear Strength of Rigid-to-Rigid Bonded Assemblies

What Are te Common Tensile Test Applications?

What is a Tensile Tester?

Tensile test machines, also known as tensile testers or tension test machines, are universal testing machines specially configured to evaluate the tensile strength of specimens. Our tensile testers will measure characteristics such as ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and modulus. Each tensile test machine is configured to your testing needs by our application engineers with the correct controller, grips, and accessories. Choose from 10 different frames and two different technologies with 100’s of configurations which allows you to optimize your testing capabilities and pick exactly what you need.

How Does a Tensile Testing Machine Work?

A sample is loaded into a tensile test machine and is subjected to a controlled tension until failure. Ultimate tensile strength, breaking strength, maximum elongation, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, and strain-hardening characteristics are measured during a tensile test

How to Select a Tensile Tester in 4 Easy Steps

Step 1 - Select your frame
Step 2 - Select your controller software
Step 3 - Select your accessories
Step 4 - Contact us

Start by Selecting Your Frame

Tensile Testers

Our tensile testers will measure characteristics such as ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and modulus. Each tensile test machine is configured to your testing needs by our application engineers with the correct controller, grips, and accessories. Choose from 10 different frames and two different technologies with 100’s of configurations which allows you to optimize your testing capabilities and pick exactly what you need.