Tensile testing is used to measure UTS, yield and elongation, all of which are important properties used for material comparisons, verifications or quality control. Verifications are required to determine if a component is fit for application or to gain insight on the materials capability in terms of strength and ductility. This method of destructive testing involved the application of a tensile force to a ready machined sample until it fractures. DMTL are equipped to perform tensile testing up to 300kN at room temperature according to international standards.
Tensile testing, also known as tension testing, is a fundamental materials science and engineering test in which a sample is subjected to a controlled tension until failure. Properties that are directly measured via a tensile test are ultimate tensile strength, breaking strength, maximum elongation and reduction in area. From these measurements the following properties can also be determined: Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, and strain-hardening characteristics. Uniaxial tensile testing is the most commonly used for obtaining the mechanical characteristics of isotropic materials. Some materials use biaxial tensile testing.
Bend testing is a method performed of welded components to qualitatively assess the soundness the welded joint. This test involves driving a plunger with a given radius into the weld, while supported either side, so that the area of interest on the weld is in tension. The specimen is bent into a U-shape after which the bent surface is visually assessed for indications.
Fracture testing is similarly to bend testing in that it is a qualitative manner of assessing mostly fillet welded joints for weld soundness. A force is applied to a specimen so that the root of the weld is in tension until the specimen fractures or bends flat upon itself. After fracturing the fracture surface is visually inspected for defects.
Hardness can be defined as the resistance to penetration which a material has to a harder body. This property gives a reflection of the chemical composition of the material and the microstructure and heat treatment history of the material. Hardness can be conducted on a micro (up to 1kgF) or macroscopic scale (over 1kgF) using a square base diamond pyramid indenter. DMTL can provide hardness measurements by Vickers or Rockwell testing methods.
Macrohardness testing using Rockwell hardness method (type C, D,and A) is available for a direct Rockwell hardness number readout and rapid testing time.
Microhardness testing is a method for measuring the hardness of a material on a microscopic scale. A precision diamond square-based pyramid indenter (Vickers hardness scale) is impressed into the material at loads from 10 grams to 1000 grams. The impression length, measured microscopically, and the test load are used to calculate a hardness value. The hardness values obtained are useful indicators of a material’s properties and expected service behaviour.
