Mechanical testing reveals the properties of a material under dynamic or static force. 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. 

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, our experts can provide you with accurate, reliable results for projects large and small.

The Element Advantage

With expertise across some of the world’s most vital industries, we can assist with even the most challenging projects, no matter what the material. For more information about our materials testing services, contact an expert today.

Bending Fatigue Testing
mechanical testing services

Bend Testing

Bend testing is used to determine the ductility or strength of a material by flexing it over a specific radius. It is widely used in metals, welds and fasteners, as well as non-metallic and composite materials. 

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Bend testing is used to determine the ductility or strength of a material by flexing it over a given radius. It is particularly useful for components and materials that will are subject to folding or flexing, such as fasteners and welds. Element uses bend testing to ensure that metals, plastics, ceramics and more are fit for purpose in their intended applications. 

Some of the bend testing methods we frequently offer include:

  • API 1104
  • ASME Section IX
  • ASTM A370
  • ASTM E190
  • ASTM E290
  • AWS D1.1
  • BS 4449
  • ISO 5173
  • ISO 7438
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Charpy Impact Test Machine
mechanical testing services

Charpy/Izod Impact Testing

Charpy and Izod impact testing are high strain methods that determine the amount of energy absorbed during fracture. Charpy is usually performed on metals, while Izod is primarily a plastics test. Element can perform testing with both standard and sub-sized samples.

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Charpy and Izod impact testing are high-strain methods that determine the amount of energy absorbed during fracture. During testing, a pendulum strikes a pre-machined sample, and data about impact is collected.

Charpy is usually performed on metals, and Izod is generally a plastics test. Element can perform testing with both standard and sub-sized samples. 

Some of the impact testing methods we use include:

  • ASTM A370
  • ASTM A923
  • ASTM D256
  • ASTM D4812
  • ASTM E23
  • ISO 148
  • ISO 9016
  • BS 131
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Mechanical Testing Fatigue Promo 640x480
mechanical testing services

Fatigue Testing

Fatigue testing simulates the progressive damage that occurs when a product or material is subjected to cyclic loading. Element can perform multiple fatigue methods to replicate different environments, including high cycle (HCF) and low cycle (LCF) fatigue, fracture toughness, rotating beam fatigue, and da/dN fatigue. 

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Fatigue testing evaluates the effects of cyclic loading on materials over time. This method can be used to find the failure point of materials, investigate failures in the field, or simulate real-world conditions. We perform fatigue testing on metals, ceramics, plastics, and more, as well as medical devices and some components.

Fatigue testing is generally split into two main groups: high cycle fatigue (HCF) and low cycle fatigue (LCF). Element provides testing for both types, and can assist in choosing the most appropriate method for your material.

Some of our more popular fatigue testing standards include:

  • BS 4449
  • ASTM D3479
  • ASTM D4482
  • ASTM E466
  • ASTM E606
  • ASTM F1160
  • ASTM F1800
  • ISO 1143
     
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Hardness Testing Laboratories
mechanical testing services

Hardness/Microhardness Testing

Hardness testing measures how well solid materials resist deformation when force is applied. Element performs Rockwell and Brinell testing on standard metal samples, and Knoop and Vickers micorhardness on sub-size samples. We also provide hardness of non-metallic materials using durometer and barcol hardness.

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Due to its versatility and fast turn-around times, hardness testing is one of the most popular mechanical test methods we perform. Used in materials selection, lot verification testing, material processing, and more, hardness testing can be performed on multiple material types.

Element performs hardness testing to a wide range of scales, and is one of the only commercial labs in the world to offer hot hardness testing. Our hardness methods include:

  • Barcol hardness
  • Brinell hardness
  • Durometer (shore) hardness
  • Film hardness (pencil method)
  • Hot hardness 
  • Knoop hardness
  • Leeb hardness
  • Mohs hardness
  • Rockwell hardness
  • Vickers hardness
  • Ultrasonic contact impedance hardness
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Proof Load Testing
mechanical testing services

Proof Load Testing

Proof load testing applied a tension-load to components, such as nuts, bolts and and assembled products. In order to pass a load test, the component must be able to support the load without any signs of deformation. Often associated with yield testing, some forms of proof load include tension testing and compression testing. 

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Mechanical Testing Sheer Promo 640x480
mechanical testing services

Shear Testing

Shear strength is a measure of a material's response to shear loading, a force that produces a sliding failure along a parallel plane. Element performs shear testing on bolts, rivets, pins and other products. Our capabilities include single shear testing, double shear testing and fastener shear testing.

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Shear testing measures a material's response to shear loading, a sliding failure along a plane parallel to the direction of force. Element performs testing on metals, plastics, composites and laminates, and more. Additionally, we provide shear testing programs for products that experience sliding stress, including bolts, rivets, pins, and other products. 

Element offers a variety of shear testing methods to accommodate a variety of material and component types. Some of the tests we commonly perform include:

  • Single shear testing
  • Double shear testing
  • Impact shear testing
  • Lap shear testig
  • Drop weight shear testing
  • Flatwise shear testing
  • In-plane shear testing
  • Long beam shear testig
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Tensile Testing Laboratory
mechanical testing services

Tensile Testing

A widely-used method that applies tension on a material until failure, tensile testing can provide a variety of material properties from a single test, including yield, elongation, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), Poisson's ratio and more. Element can perform tensile testing at ambient, elevated and sub-ambient temperatures on metals, plastics, rubbers and composites.

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One of the most popular methods for almost every material testing program, tensile testing is a method that applies tension on a material until failure. A single tensile test can provide a variety of material properties, including yield, elongation, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), Poisson’s ratio, and more.

Element can perform tensile testing at ambient, elevated and sub-ambient temperatures on metals, plastics, rubbers and more. Some of the many methods we offer include:

  • ASTM A370
  • ASTM A615
  • ASTM C297
  • ASTM D3039
  • ASTM E21
  • ASTM E345
  • ASTM E517
  • ASTM E646
  • ASTM E8
  • ASTM F606
  • ISO 6892
  • ISO 898
  • NASM 1312
  • SAE J1216
  • SAE J429
     
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Mechanical Testing Torque Promo 640x480
mechanical testing services

Torque Testing

Torque refers to an object's natural tendency to rotate about an axis. Our testing capabilities can characterize a product's torque properties under a variety of conditions. While Element can test a range of components, most of our torque testing is performed on hardware and fasteners.

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Torque refers to an object’s natural tendency to rotate about an axis, and is performed to simulate a twisting motion on materials and components. Torque is generally performed on samples that will encounter rotational stress and failure, such as screws, nuts, and bolts.

Our testing capabilities can characterize a product’s torque properties under a variety of conditions. Some of the methods that we commonly test include:

  • ASME B18
  • ASTM F606
  • IFI 101
  • MIL-DTL-18240
  • MIL-F-18240
  • NASM 1312
  • NASM 25027
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Abrasion and Wear Testing Aerospace Fasteners Aircraft Interiors Flammability Testing Chemical Analysis Chemical Processing Composite Testing Computed Tomography Contamination Testing Corrosion Testing Die Steel Qualification Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Dynamic Mechanical Analysis Eddy Current Inspection Etching Expert Witness Services Failure Analysis
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Nonmetals Failure Analysis Nonmetal Mechanical Testing Nonmetal Testing On-site metallographic examination Paint and Coating Material Testing Services Passivation Polymer Matrix Composite Testing Polymer Testing Services Positive Material Identification Radiographic Inspection Residual Stress Measurement Residue Analysis Sour Service Corrosion Testing Stress Rupture and Creep Testing Stress Strain Analysis Tensile Testing Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
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