Mechanical Testing
Mechanical testing is part of the 3-legged stool with material selection and material processing. Mechanical testing measures material properties and characteristic performance. Most mechanical testing does not necessarily match environment and loadings that the component experiences during use. It is best to understand that environment and then replicate it in a laboratory setting for qualitative comparisons. Otherwise, the typical mechanical testing can be used to pre-select materials based on certain attributes.
- Hardness – ultimate tensile strength, wear resistance, processing
- Various Rockwell scales;
- Knoop microhardness;
- Measure bulk and coating strength.
- Tensile – ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, Young’s modulus, ductility
- Fatigue – characterizes life (number of cycles) at various strains or stresses
- MTS model 312 with 458 controller;
- 55,000 # max load;
- Compression and tension loading;
- Determine endurance limit;
- Low / high cycle fatigue strength
- Microhardness – ultimate tensile strength of tiny regions
- Bending – a variation between fatigue and tensile testing
- Tension - compression or tinius olsen testing
- 120,000 maximum load;
- Round, flat or other geometry samples;
- Measure strength, ductility, stiffness.
Strength can be determined via tensile testing, hardness testing. Ductility can be determined via tensile testing, bend testing. Toughness can be determined via tensile testing, Charpy V-notch impact testing. Wear resistance can be characterized via pin-on-disk.