Element offers a full suite of mechanical testing services for metallic and nonmetallic materials, as well as components and specialty products. Whether testing to a standard method or developing a custom program, Element’s experts provide you with accurate, reliable, and fast results for your projects.
What is mechanical testing?
Mechanical testing refers to a set of methods used to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials under different loading conditions. These methods involve applying controlled mechanical forces or stresses to a material and measuring the deformation, strain, or stress.
Why mechanical testing is important?
Mechanical testing is important because it provides valuable information about the mechanical properties of materials which is critical for designing and developing materials for specific applications and ensuring that materials are safe and reliable.
Mechanical testing allows engineers and scientists to determine the performance of materials under different loading conditions, such as tension, compression, bending and shear to determine properties such as strength, toughness, ductility, and stiffness.
Types of mechanical testing methods
Designed to ensure that materials are suitable for their intended applications, mechanical testing includes methods such as tensile strength, compression strength, impact resistance, fracture toughness, and fatigue. By pushing materials to failure, we can collect data about their strength, flexibility, ductility, hardness, and more.
Our mechanical testing capabilities
Element offers a wide range of mechanical tests, on both metallic and non-metallic. In addition to standardized methods, our laboratories can assist with custom or complex setups. Often these tests can be conducted in a wide range of environments to suit specific needs and requirements
Some types of mechanical tests that we offer include:
- Abrasion resistance testing
- Adhesive strength testing
- Bend testing
- Bond strength testing
- Brinell hardness testing
- Charpy impact testing
- Chemical composition
- Coefficient of friction
- Compression testing
- Creep testing
- Elongation testing
- Expansion testing
- Fastener testing
- Fastener holding testing
- Fatigue testing
- Flexural strength testing
- Fracture toughness testing
- Hardness testing
- Indentation Force Deflection (IDF)
- Modulus of rupture
- Modulus of elasticity
- Package seal burst strength testing
- Peel strength
- Puncture resistance testing
- R-Value testing
- Rend & rebend testing
- Residual stress management
- Rockwell hardness testing
- Shear testing
- Strain gaging
- Stress/strain curve analysis
- Stress rupture testing
- Tear testing
- Tensile testing
- Torque testing
- Vickers hardness testing
- Weld mechanical testing
- Weld shear testing
Mechanical testing of steel
Steel testing for use within concrete structures.
- Metals & Metals Product
- Reinforcing Steel
- Welded Steel Fabric
- Prestressing Steel
- Mechanical Couplers
- Structural Steel
- Bolts & Nuts
The Element advantage
With one of the most comprehensive ranges of materials testing services available in the TIC sector, Element is the world leader in the provision of high-volume routine mechanical testing services.
We have expertise across some of the world’s most vital industries and can assist with even the most challenging projects, no matter what the material.
For more information about our mechanical/destructive testing services, contact an expert today.
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READ MORERelated Services
We provide a variety of mechanical testing services around the world.

Mechanical Testing at Cryogenic Temperatures
Element’s cryogenic testing services ensure the reliability and optimum performance of your materials in low-temperature conditions.

Aerospace Mechanical Testing
Find out about Element's tensile, elongation, compression, impact, fracture toughness, stress, rupture, fatigue, hardness, abrasion & wear, bend, pressure, shear and torque testing services.

Mechanical Testing Services for Polymers
Element offers comprehensive mechanical testing services for polymers, elastomers, composites and thermoplastics, including fatigue, impact, creep, tensile, compression, bending and shear.

Mechanical Testing of Composite Materials
Element’s global network of composite testing laboratories offers an array of mechanical testing services, including compression, shear, tensile, and fatigue.

Mechanical & Physical Testing of Coatings
With a wide range of coatings testing services, Element provides flexibility testing (Mandrel and T-bend tests), measuring coatings density, volume solids and fingerprinting services.