MECHANICAL TESTS

TENSILE TEST

The tension test related to the mechanical testing of steel products subjects a machined or full-section specimen of the material under examination to a measured load sufficient to cause rupture. Ultimate Tensile Strength, Yield Strength, True Stress and Strain, Engineering Stress and Strain, the Elastic Modulus, the Fracture Stress, the Modulus of Toughness, and the Modulus of Resilience, may all be determined by tensile testing.

Transverse Weld Tensile
All-Weld Tensile
Elevated Temperature Tensile Testing - ASTM E21
Through Thickness Tensile
Tensile Test at Elevated Temperature (up to 1200ºC)
Reinforcement Bar / Wire Mesh

CHARPY IMPACT TEST

The Charpy Impact Test is a cost-effective test method used to determine the material’s relative impact toughness at a specific temperature. Specimens are first machined to a specific dimension and surface finish before being notched and placed in a liquid bath until the specimens have reached the test temperature. The specimen is then loaded into the test machine and struck with a weighted pendulum released from a set height within 5 seconds of leaving the liquid bath. The higher the absorbed energy of the specimen, the greater the relative impact toughness of the material. The resulting test data is used when qualifying welding procedures, evaluating heat treatment processes or verifying material type and grade, normally on welds or materials intended for low temperature applications such as ship hulls or marine structures.

GUIDE BEND TEST

The guide bend test is used to verify the ductility of the material. If the material does not fracture after bending, the piece is visually checked for cracking or other surface irregularities. The specimen are place on the die member of the jig with the weld at midspan.

Face bend specimens are place with the face of the weld directed toward the gap.
Root bend and fillet weld soundness specimens are place with the root of the weld directed toward the gap.
Side bend specimens are place with that side showing the greater discontinuity directed toward the gap. The plunger will force the specimen into the die until the specimen becomes U-shaped.

FRACTURE/ NICK-BREAK TEST

The Fracture or Nick Break Test is used to determine the quality of a weld, and involves breaking open the weld length-wise, and then visually inspecting the exposed weld interior for any internal imperfections such as lack of sidewall fusion, lack of inter-run fusion and porosity. The test can be carried out for both Butt Welds and Fillet Welds Test coupons.

For Butt Welds, a groove is machined along the weld centerline to provide a convenient fracture path before the specimen split open via a hydraulic press or a conventional hammer.

For Fillet Welds, hydraulic press is use to apply sufficient force to the opposite side of the weld fillet is typically sufficient to fracture the weld for inspection.

Fracture Test Set-Up

Broken weld after Fracture Test

Broken weld after Nick Break Test

HARDNESS TESTS

A hardness test is a means of determining resistance to penetration and is occasionally employed to obtain a quick approximation of tensile strength. There are 3 types of hardness tests:

Vickers (HV)

The Vickers hardness test is a versatile hardness test method, used for both macro and micro hardness testing. It has a broad load range, and is suitable for a wide range of applications and materials. The Vickers Hardness (HV) is calculated by optically measuring the diagonal lengths of the impression left by the indenter.

Rockwell (HRB,HRC)

Rockwell hardness test method, as defined in ASTM E-18, is the most commonly used hardness test method.
The Rockwell hardness test is based on the measurement of the depth to which an indenter is forced by a heavy (major) load beyond the depth resulting from a previously applied preliminary (minor) load.

Brinell (HB)

The Brinell hardness test method as used to determine Brinell hardness, is defined in ASTM E10. Most commonly it is used to test materials that have a structure that is too coarse or that have a surface that is too rough to be tested using another test method, e.g., castings and forgings. The Brinell method applies a predetermined test load (F) to a carbide ball of fixed diameter. The resulting impression is measured, and then converted to a Brinell hardness number.

FLATTENING TEST

Flattening test is to test the ultimate plastic deformation ability of steel pipes and crush deformation without breaking, splitting or crack defects.

FLARING TEST

Flaring test is that either ebd of a sample is inserted by a tappered mandrel with 60° angle at speed of 20-50m/min.

PEEL TEST

Peel test is the peeling-off of strip to a minimum length of 100 mm before breaking as per CSA Z245.21-02, DIN 30670.1991 standard.

PUNCH TEST

The Punch test was conducted on glass panel according to BV Rules NR 216, Ch 4, Sec 3.

The glass sample - 300x300 mm is place on top of steel base platform with 150 mm hole & with rubber interface, then a load of 1000N is applied for 5 seconds

SHEAR TEST
Shear Test is used to determine the shear strength of materials. It is generally performed on specimens such as bolts, screws and rivets. An appropriate shear set up is used depending on the specimen and is then placed in the tensile machine. Lateral shear force is applied to the specimen until failure occurs.

COMPRESSION & PROOF LOAD TEST
Proof Load Tests are typically performed on finished components such as bolts and nuts as part of a quality control process to verify if the batch of components are able to hold their rated design load without failure. To perform this test, the specimens are loaded individually in the tensile machine and, depending on the relevant product specifications, a specified load is applied to it for a set time. If the product breaks, yields or show signs of cracking, the product is considered to have failed the test. NDT tests are often used in conjunction with the Proof Load Test to ensure any fine cracks are detected before and after testing.