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Tensile Testing
The following MATERIAL
PROPERTIES can be evaluated /
determined by TENSILE TESTING:

STRENGTH

DUCTILITY

ELASTICITY

STIFFNESS

Material Properties
STRENGTH - the greatest stress that the material can
withstand prior to failure.
DUCTILITY - a material property that allows it to undergo
considerable plastic deformation under a load before
failure.
ELASTICITY - a material property that allows it to retain
its original dimensions after removal of a deforming load.
STIFFNESS - a material property that allows a material to
withstand high stress without great strain.

The Tensile Tester

A machine which applies a tensile force (a
force applied in opposite directions) to the
specimen, and then measures that force
and also the elongation:
This machine usually uses a hydraulic
cylinder to create the force. The applied
force is determined by system pressure,
which can be accurately measured.

The Tensile Tester

Applied Force is hydraulic pressure times
the area of the cylinders piston.

F = PRESSURE x AREA

= 0.6N/mm x 1962.25mm
2

=1177.35 N

Tensile Tester

Data Acquisition Unit

Stress - Strain Curve

THE SAMPLE

Area of measured test

Marking the sample:

A precision punch with
two points exactly
2.000 apart is used to
mark the sample in the
tested region.

This establishes the

original length.

This device, called an

EXTENSOMETER,
measures the distance
between the two prongs
very precisely while the
test is in progress.

Before

After

A Stainless Steel
sample is loaded in
the tester.

Terms
Necking: The localized decrease in diameter in a
specimen near the rupture point.

Elastic Deformation Region: The area of a stress strain curve where the specimen will deform under load, yet
return to its original shape when the load is removed.

Plastic Deformation: Deformation that occurs once

the object has been stressed past its elastic limit. The
deformation is no longer reversible.

Necking
Necking occurs as
the sample leaves
the elastic
deformation region
and begins to
deform plastically.

The classic cup &

cone shape of a
fairly ductile tensile
fracture is visible
here.

Upon completion of the test, the sample is

reassembled and final measurements for total
elongation and minimum diameter are made
using a vernier caliper.

For maximum precision, the points of the vernier

caliper must be placed exactly at the center of the
marks made by the punch prior to the test.

Compare the material properties of

these three metal samples.
All three failed under tension

PLASTIC DEFORMATION REGION

ELASTIC DEFORMATION REGION

The point of departure from the elastic

deformation region is known as the yield
point.

In the elastic region, the slope of this

line is the materials Modulus of
Elasticity.

Stress - Strain Plot