Element’s tensile testing labs provide conditions for exposing materials to a static or slowly applied force, determining their ultimate tensile strength. We perform industry-leading tensile tests for many metallic or non-metallic materials.

What is tensile testing?

Tensile testing is a destructive mechanical testing method that subjects a sample to uniaxial tension until failure. Our testing services allow us to deliver critical information relating to the strength, stiffness, and ductility of materials.

 

Why is tensile testing important?  

Designers must achieve acceptable levels of performance and economy whilst assuring the item is both safe and durable. One of the most basic design concerns to avoid structural failure is that the stress in a component does not exceed the strength of the material.

 

Tensile strength testing method 

The force and extension are measured as the sample is stretched at a constant speed. Engineering stress is calculated from the ratio of force response to the cross-sectional area of the sample; the strain, often presented as percentage strain is calculated from the extension. The data is analyzed to obtain the yield strength and percent elongation; the highest stress recorded before fracture is the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS). Materials with a high UTS and percent elongation are said to be tough, generally, a desirable quality is a design.

 

Tensile testing of metals 

Whether you are a manufacturer of metal products, a designer, or a quality manager, materials testing is a valuable approach to ensuring that the materials you are developing or incorporating into infrastructure and products are fit for their purpose and capable of performing over their expected lifespan. We provide tensile testing for metals and metallic alloys according to common industry standards, including ASTM E8, ASTM E21, BS EN 2002, ISO 898-1, and ISO 6892. 
 
 

ASTM composite tensile test 

Testing composites requires specialized knowledge, experience, and equipment. Our composite experts have experience testing to various composite tensile test specifications including ASTM D3039, ASTM C363, ASTM C1273, ASTM C1359, and ASTM D7565. With active memberships in numerous composite committees including ASTM D30, CMH-17, Nadcap, and the Committee on Composite Materials, our composite testing labs can help you get the most out of your advanced materials.
 

ASTM polymer tensile test

Polymers and plastics possess a high degree of stiffness and strength, without the added weight of traditional materials like metals and plastics. We offer tensile testing for polymers and polymer matrix composites according to ASTM D638, ASTM D882, ASTM D1004, ISO 527, and more. 
 

Rubber and elastomer tensile test 

Tensile testing of rubber and elastomers measures the elasticity of the material while under tensile strain, and the behavior of the material after testing. Our experts test rubber and elastomer materials according to specifications including ASTM D412, ASTM D414, and ISO 37.
 

Weld tensile testing 

We offer testing services for different types of welds, including tensile tests per ASME Section IX, AWS D17.1, DNV F101, and ISO 4136. Our highly experienced and certified weld technology experts and PCN and CSWIP-qualified weld inspectors provide critical welding-related services. We perform all weld, transverse weld, and transverse all weld tensile testing to determine a weld’s strength and resistance to force. 
 

Our tensile testing capabilities 

Our laboratories utilize state-of-the-art digital instrumentation to report the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), maximum elongation, and reduction of the area of a material. From these measurements, we can determine the following properties: Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength elongation, and strain-hardening characteristics.
Our additional tensile testing services include: 
 

The Element advantage

By working with Element, you benefit from fast, precise test results from our global network of laboratories. We make certain that the materials we test are safe, quality, compliant, and fit for purpose.

For more information about our tensile testing and tensile strength services, contact our experts today. 

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 

AASHTO M31, AASHTO T244

Application Program Interface

API STD 1104

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME Sec. IX

ASTM International

ASTM A370, ASTM A488, ASTM A615, ASTM A706, ASTM A770, ASTM A975, ASTM B557, ASTM C165, ASTM C203, ASTM C209, ASTM C297, ASTM C303, ASTM C363, ASTM C518, ASTM C550, ASTM C578, ASTM C1273, ASTM C1275, ASTM C1359, ASTM C1366, ASTM C1468, ASTM D 412, ASTM D638, ASTM D695, ASTM D696, ASTM D882, ASTM D696, ASTM D1004, ASTM D1414, ASTM D1621, ASTM D1622, ASTM D1623, ASTM D1708, ASTM D1822, ASTM D2095, ASTM D2126, ASTM D2557, ASTM D2919, ASTM D2990, ASTM D3039, ASTM D3163, ASTM D3164, ASTM D3165, ASTM D3518, ASTM D3759, ASTM D4541, ASTM D5034, ASTM D5035, ASTM D5083, ASTM D5766, ASTM D6484, ASTM D6742, ASTM D7291, ASTM D7565, ASTM E4, ASTM E8/8M, ASTM E21, ASTM E345 ASTM E517, ASTM E646, ASTM F541, ASTM F606, ASTM F738, ASTM F879, ASTM F1147

American Welding Society

AWS B2.1, AWS B4, AWS D1.1, AWS D1.2, AWS D1.4, AWS D1.5, AWS 1.6 AWS 8.9, AWS D14.1, AWS

Euronorm

EN 485, EN 895, EN 10002-1, EN 10002-5, EN 10326IFI 114, IFI 135

British Standards Institution (BSI)

BS ISO 37, BS ISO 7800,  BS EN ISO 4136, BS EN ISO 5173,BS EN ISO 5176, BS EN ISO 5178, BS EN ISO 6892-1, BS EN ISO 6892-2, BS EN ISO 9015, BS EN ISO 9016, BS EN ISO 9606-1, BS EN ISO 9606-2, BS EN ISO 15614-1, BS EN ISO 15614-2, BS EN ISO 15614-8, BS EN ISO 17639, BS EN 10002-1

Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN)

DIN EN ISO 4136, DIN EN ISO 6892-1, DIN EN ISO 6892-2, DIN EN ISO 8496

Department of Defense

DOD-STD-1312-108

DNV

DNV-OS-F101, DNV Rules

General Motors

GM 255M, GM 275M, GM 280M, GM 290M, GM 300M, GM 455M, GM 500M, GM 6171M

International Organization for Standardization

ISO 37, ISO 527-1, ISO 527-2, ISO 527-3, ISO 527-4, ISO 527-5, ISO 783, ISO 898-1, ISO 898-5, ISO 1002, ISO 1421, ISO 1798, ISO 3506 ISO 4136, ISO 5173, ISO 5176, ISO 5178, ISO 5893, ISO 6295, ISO 6892-1, ISO 6892-2, ISO 7800, ISO 7801, ISO 8496, ISO 8513, ISO 9015, ISO 9016, ISO 9018, ISO 9606, ISO 13934, ISO 15614-1, ISO 15614-2, ISO 15614-12, ISO 17639, BS ISO 37, BS ISO 7800,  BS EN ISO 4136, BS EN ISO 5173,BS EN ISO 5176, BS EN ISO 5178, BS EN ISO 6892-1, BS EN ISO 6892-2, BS EN ISO 9015, BS EN ISO 9016, BS EN ISO 9606-1, BS EN ISO 9606-2, BS EN ISO 15614-1, BS EN ISO 15614-2, BS EN ISO 15614-8, BS EN ISO 17639, BS EN 10002-1

Japanese Industrial Standards

JIS B1051, JIS B1054, JIS D4604, JIS J1054 

Military Standards

MIL-STD-248 MIL-STD-1312-8, MIL-STD-1312-18

Society of Automotive Engineers

SAE J82, SAE J429, SAE J1199, SAE J1216, SAE J2253

Standard Reference Material

SRM 3-94, SRM 4-94, SRM 5-94, SRM 9-94

Gripping Medical Devices for Tensile Testing

Medical devices such as leads and sutures are typically subject to tensile testing to characterize their mechanical properties under tension. Gripping these devices during testing provides additional challenges and can require custom fixturing to obtain meaningful data. READ MORE

Tensile Testing of Metal Products 

ASTM E8/E8M describes the methods of determination of mechanical properties that define the quality of a material: yield strength, yield point elongation, tensile strength, elongation, and reduction of area. Download a free guide to understanding the test procedure, the test specimens, and the test data. READ MORE

ASTM D3039 Testing Considerations

Although it is a popular composite tensile testing method, there are a few considerations that must be made prior to performing ASTM D3039 testing. Read our article to learn more about 5 considerations for ASTM D3039 composite tensile testing. 

READ MORE

What is Destructive Testing? 

Destructive testing, also known as mechanical testing, subjects a material to different loads and stresses to evaluate its strength and durability. Read the article to learn about the different methods used for destructive testing. 

READ MORE

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