Evaluate static tensile strength characteristics of materials, products, & components

tensile test
Tensile Test Machine

Tensile test is one of the most fundamental mechanical tests that can be performed on a material, product or component. 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.

Why Perform a Tensile Test?

Tensile testing is the most common test for obtaining the mechanical characteristics of isotropic materials. Tensile tests, along with compression tests and flexural bend tests, produce fundamental information to characterize materials properties. Materials testing properties help select materials for engineering applications and are included in material specifications to ensure quality. They are used to compare different and new materials or processes.

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Ultimate Tensile Strength Measurements

tensile test systemA material's tensile strength is probably the first and foremost concern amongst designers, materials suppliers. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking. The force is measured with the test machine’s load cell and converted to stress by the test machine’s controller software. UTS is calculated by dividing the peak tension force the test sample withstands by its cross sectional area. Tensile testing is a common materials test in which the test sample is subjected to a controlled tension load until it breaks. The tensile strength may differ from the specimen's strength at break, depending on whether the material is brittle, ductile, or both. In the case of brittle materials the ultimate tensile strength is close to the yield point, whereas in ductile materials the ultimate tensile strength is typically higher.

Properties that are directly measured via a tensile strength test include ultimate tensile strength, breaking strength, maximum elongation and reduction in area. The ultimate tensile strength is found by performing a tensile test and recording the engineering stress. The highest point of the stress-displacement curve is the ultimate tensile strength and has units of stress.

Test equipment is simpler when it only needs to test for ultimate tensile strength.

Hooke's Law

In the majority of cases, the initial test portion displays a linear relationship between the applied force and specimen elongation. In this region, the slope of the line obeys "Hooke's Law" where the ratio of stress to strain is a constant. The slope of the line is called Modulus of Elasticity or Young's Modulus.

Tensile Modulus & Yield Strength

In tensile testing applications, Young's Modulus is commonly referred to as Tensile Modulus. Modulus is a measure of the elastic stiffness of the test sample that applies only to the linear portion of the curve. If the tensile load is removed from the sample, then it will return to the same position that it had before the load was applied. As the load increases and the curve becomes nonlinear then Hooke's Law no longer applies and permanent or plastic deformation occurs. Once the sample takes a permanent stretch, it reaches the yield strength of the material, also known as proof strength. Commonly this set of tensile test data, or test results would include elastic limit, tensile strength, yield point, yield strength, elongation, and Young's Modulus. 

The same test equipment used for ultimate tensile strength can be expanded to measure modulus and yield strength by adding a strain sensor (e.g. extensometer) with appropriate software.

Tensile Test Applications

A tensile test is used to check the quality of different materials based on their properties such as ductility, hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength. When selecting materials for a final product or prototype, you need to know if they will stand up to real-world use. Every material has a breaking point, so knowing how strong your materials are can alert you if you are using something that won’t hold up well under stress. When choosing fabrics, metal alloys, paper pulp and other raw materials, a tensile test can help you select the strongest available options.

Different types of materials and products require different types of fixtures. Round steel rebar samples require different fixturing than a geotextile sample would. 

Here are just a few examples of fixtures for different tensile applications:

G7W Mechanical Wedge Grip
Steel Rebar Tensile Testing
Rigid Plastics Tensile Test
Rigid Plastic Tensile Testing
Fiber Rope Tensile Test
Fiber Rope Tensile Testing
Geotextiles Tensile Test
Geotextile Tensile Testing
Learn more about tensile grips and fixtures →

Popular Testing Applications

Adhesives

ASTM D897 determines comparative tensile properties of the adhesive bonds of metal...
ASTM F2258 is intended to provide a means for comparison of the adhesive strengths...
ASTM C1135 measures the tensile adhesion properties of structural sealants. Other ...
ASTM D3759 covers the measurement of tensile strength and elongation properties fo...
ASTM C961 determines the lap shear strength of sealants. It also provides informat...
ASTM D2095 determines the relative tensile strength of adhesives by the use of bar...
ISO 8339 specifies a method for the determination of the tensile properties includ...
ISO 6922 Adhesives -- Determination of tensile strength of butt joints Give our t...
Epoxy's, glues, and plastic welders are used in a wide variety of application that...
ISO 14916 determines the tensile adhesive strength of thermally sprayed deposits. ...
ISO 29864 specifies methods to measure the breaking strength and elongation at bre...
Specifies equipment and procedures for determining the tensile bond strength of th...

Plastics

ASTM D882 is a widely used testing standard for tensile properties of thin plastic...
Thin sheeting and plastic films are considered any flat plastic material of 1 mm (...
Tensile testing plastics is the process of stretching or pulling an object with a ...
The ISO 527-2 standard provides a means of measuring the tensile properties of mol...
ISO 527-1 Tensile Test of Plastics Composites ISO 527-1 covers the test procedures...
Polyvinyl Chloride, also known as PVC, is a rigid plastic material that is used in...
Fiberglass is a plastic matrix composite material that is constructed from a resin...
Summary: Information on tensile testing thin plastic materials, along with machine...
ASTM D2290 is a standard that specifies the test method for apparent hoop tensile ...
ASTM D2990 is used to determine the tensile, compressive, and flexural behavior of...
Plastics can be broken into two categories: thermoplastics, and thermosetting poly...
The ASTM C1147 standard is used to prepare and evaluate the joints between weldabl...
ASTM D5179 is a standard test method used to evaluate the adhesion and tensile str...
ISO 6721-1 Dynamic Testing of Plastic Materials ISO 6721-1 covers the dynamic test...
ASTM D3826 is a standard test method that determines the tensile properties of a p...
ASTM D3916 describes a procedure for determining the tensile properties of pultrud...
Reinforced and unreinforced plastic material properties tests are important to det...
Summary: Description of tensile testing plastics and plastic composites, along wit...
ISO 13953 specifies tests for the tensile strength and failure mode of test pieces...
IEC 60811-4-2 specifies the test methods for testing polymeric insulating and shea...
ISO 3501 specifies a method for checking the ability of assembled pipe-fitting-joi...
Tensile testing of webbing materials involves the testing of flat strips of high-s...
ASTM D5083 covers the determination of the tensile properties of thermosetting rei...
ASTM D1708 is a test method that has been used over time to measure the tensile an...
Injection, extrusion, and compression molding have become one of the most popular ...
ISO 6259 test standard is a tensile test method to determine the tensile propertie...
Summary: Description of tensile testing plastics and plastic composites, along wit...
Establishes a list of properties and the corresponding test methods that permit in...
Tensile testing is a common method used to measure the strength of plastics and po...
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic with a primary use for p...
Summary: Information on tensile testing thin plastic materials, along with machine...

Composites

Tensile testing plastics is the process of stretching or pulling an object with a ...
ASTM D2105 is a standard test method for tensile properties of fiberglass pipe and...
ISO 527-1 Tensile Test of Plastics Composites ISO 527-1 covers the test procedures...
Sandwich panels are a composite material created by attaching two thin skins to a ...
Fiberglass is a plastic matrix composite material that is constructed from a resin...
ASTM D7205 determines the quasi-static longitudinal tensile strength and elongatio...
Advanced composite materials, such as reinforced polymer matrix composites, have b...
ASTM D4762 is the standard guide for testing fiber reinforced polymer matrix compo...
ASTM D7565 describes the requirements for sample preparation, tensile testing, and...
ASTM D3379 covers the preparation, mounting, and testing of high-modulus single-fi...
ASTM D3916 describes a procedure for determining the tensile properties of pultrud...
ASTM D2343 determines the comparative tensile properties of glass fiber strands, y...
ASTM D7291 determines the through-thickness and flatwise tensile strength of fiber...
Continued advancements in the design and manufacture of engineered composites have...
ASTM E 2098 (E-2098) determines the breaking force of glass fiber mesh following t...
ASTM C1230 determines the tensile load capacity of glass-fiber reinforced concrete...
ASTM D4018 tensile test for carbon graphite yarns roving tows cover the preparatio...
ASTM C363 node tensile test of honeycomb core is a fundamental property than can b...
Summary: Description of tensile testing plastics and plastic composites, along wit...
Continued advancements in the design and manufacture of engineered composites has ...
ASTM D5083 covers the determination of the tensile properties of thermosetting rei...
ASTM C1275 determines tensile behavior including tensile strength and stress-strai...
Fiber reinforced polymers and plastic composites are mechanically tested with a wi...
ASTM D5766 determines the open-hole tensile strength of multidirectional polymer m...
ASTM D 3552 determines the tensile properties of metal matrix composites reinforce...
ISO 14129 specifies the procedure for finding the material properties of fibre-rei...
Continued advancements in the design and manufacture of engineered composites has ...
Summary: Description of tensile testing plastics and plastic composites, along wit...
Continued advancements in the design and manufacture of engineered composites has ...
The tensile testing of aramid cords and yarns may be performed according to the me...
Continued advancements in the design and manufacture of engineered composites has ...
Getting accurate, repeatable, and maximized results for aerospace composites requi...

Rubber

The ASTM D412 tension test for rubber and elastomers is a standard test that was d...
ASTM D412 and ISO 37 are great tensile test methods to measure stress-strain chara...
ASTM D1414 describes several procedures and tests for determining physical and mec...
ASTM D412 and ISO 37 are good tensile test methods to characterize the general str...
ISO 11193-1 specifies requirements for packaged sterile, or bulked non-sterile, ru...
Configuring test equipment for elastomer and rubber is a three step process. The f...
ISO 37 describes a method for the determination of the tensile stress-strain prope...
ISO 8829-1 specifies test methods for flexible polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) inne...
ASTM D6319 determines the certain requirements for nitrile rubber gloves used in c...
ISO 4647 specifies principle, materials, apparatus, test piece, time-interval betw...
The ASTM D5250 standard details procedures for evaluating the requirements for pol...
ISO 11193-2 specifies requirements for packaged sterile, or bulked non-sterile, po...
This standard test formula is all about evaluating carbon black in rubber. It cove...

Wood & Wood Products

ASTM D1037 is a test which helps determine the properties of wood-base fibers and ...
The unique structure of wood necessitates a variety of testing methods to fully ch...
ASTM D143 contains the standard test methods for testing small clear timber specim...
The unique structure of wood requires a variety of testing methods to fully charac...
Nails and screws are the most commonly used fasteners used for wood and wood based...
Nails and screws are the most commonly used fasteners used for wood and wood based...
ASTM D3500 determines the tensile properties of structural panels. Give our test e...
ISO 2307 also provides a method for measuring water repellency, lubrication and fi...
There are a variety of tensile tests for wood materials, including tension paralle...

Metals

ASTM A48 tensile test for castings covers gray iron castings intended for general ...
ISO 2740 is applicable to all sintered metals and alloys, excluding hardmetals. IS...

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