Mechanical testing is a critical part of any product and development process. This form of testing enables developers to gain a better understanding of product vulnerability and quality. Specifically, proper mechanical testing may determine variables such as tensile strength, fracture toughness, impact resistance, and more. Measuring and understanding these variables are important in establishing improved quality control; however, this process is often highly complex for manufacturers and business owners.
JTL America’s team of highly skilled and experienced engineers uses an extensive range of techniques to run comprehensive testing programs for our clients. This includes fatigue testing, tension, and compression testing. Our engineers have the expertise to perform independent analysis and measure characteristics of materials or components for industrial applications.
You can learn more about our first-rate mechanical testing services below or contact us for a fast quote today.
Mechanical Testing Standards
The following is a list of primary ASTM standards used by our engineers. Please note, there are additional standards. If you have questions about these standards, or another standard that’s not listed, don’t hesitate to contact our engineers.
ASTM E8 – Tensile Testing of Metallic Materials
ASTM E9 – Compressive Yield Testing of Metallic Materials
ASTM E399 – Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
ASTM B645 – Standard Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Aluminum Alloys
ASTM E1820 – Standard Test Method for Measurement of Fracture Toughness Jic
Tension And Compression Testing Overview
We perform tension and compression testing to determine tensile strength, yield strength, and yield point elongation of your product when stretching loads are applied. To put it simply, we test to see if your material will break under tension. More specifically, this form of testing, which pulls apart the sample, determines a sample’s behavior during the application of axial stretching loads. Our experts perform tensile strength testing under controlled or ambient conditions to determine the properties of your material.
Tension And Compression Testing Methods
ASTM E8/E8M – Tensile Testing of Metallic Materials
This test method covers tension testing of metallic materials in any form at room temperature, specifically, the methods of determination of yield strength, yield point elongation, tensile strength, elongation, and reduction of area. The gauge lengths for most round specimens are required to be 4D for E8 and 5D for E8M. The gauge length is the most significant difference between E8 and E8M test specimens.
There are three (3) types of loading methods that can be used to perform the tensile test.
Control Method A – Rate of Stressing for Determining Yield Properties
The rate of stress application in the linear elastic region is between 1.15 and 11.5 MPa/second (10,000 and 100,000 psi/minute).
Control Method B – Rate of Straining Control Method for Determining Yield Properties
The rate of straining shall be set and maintained at 0.015 + 0.006 mm/mm/min (in./in./min).
Control Method C – Crosshead Speed Control Method for Determining Yield Properties
The test speed shall be set to a speed equal to 0.015 + 0.003 mm/mm/min (in./in./min) of the length original reduced section (not the gauge section).
The customer can provide which loading method to use.
Fatigue Testing Overview
Another key mechanical testing solution offered by our engineers is fatigue testing. This involves the application of cyclic loading to your material to understand how it will perform—specifically, its crack initiation and fatigue life—under similar conditions in actual use. In other words, fatigue testing will help you create products that not only meet quality requirements, but are also safe, strong, and extremely durable.
Fatigue Testing Methods
Cyclic Fatigue Test – A cyclic fatigue test is used to determine crack initiation and to determine fatigue life as well as to validate new materials and processes.
This test method determines stress versus fatigue life data by the use of uniaxially loaded test specimens under constant stress amplitudes. Typically 15 to 20 specimens are tested to generate the SN Curve. Common R ratios are -1.0 and 0.1.
This test method determines the fatigue properties and crack initiation for nominally homogeneous materials by the use of uniaxially loaded test specimens under constant strain amplitudes. Typically 15 to 20 specimens are tested using a fully reversed strain amplitude. Test specimens have a uniformed gauge section. Strain amplitudes typically range from 0.015 strain to .002 strain. In addition to developing the Strain versus Life plot, the cyclic and monotonic Stress versus Strain plots are obtained.
Fatigue Properties
Fatigue Strength Coefficient, sf’ (ksi) Fatigue Strength Exponent, b Fatigue Ductility Coefficient, ef’ Fatigue Ductility Exponent, c Cyclic Strength Coefficient, K’ Cyclic Strain Hardening Exponent, n’ The customer may dictate the R ratio, strain levels, and the test frequency.
Globally Accredited Testing Facilities
JTL America has been assessed by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 which is the global standard of quality governing the operation of testing laboratories. There are certain qualifications specific to mechanical testing referenced in this accreditation. These include:
Specific Tests and/or Properties Measured
Specification, Standard, Method, or Test Technique
Items, Materials or Product Tested
Key Equipment or Technology
Tension & Compression Monotonic Testing (-250 000 to 250 000) N(0 to 150) mm
Customer supplied specifications Laboratory developed specifications approved by the client
Mechanical components: medical, automotive, aerospace, heavy vehicle, agricultural, defense, consumer products and all metal alloys
Load Frames Controllers LVDTs Load Cells
Force Controlled Cyclic Testing(-250 000 to 250 000) N(0 to 150) mm(0 to 30) Hz
Customer supplied specifications Laboratory developed specifications approved by the client
Mechanical components: medical, automotive, aerospace, heavy vehicle, agricultural, defense, and consumer products
Load Frames Controllers LVDTs Load Cells
Displacement Controlled Cyclic Testing(-250 000 to 250 000) N(0 to 150) mm(0 to 30) Hz
Customer supplied specifications Laboratory developed specifications approved by the client
Mechanical components: medical, automotive, aerospace, heavy vehicle, agricultural, defense, and consumer products
Load Frames Controllers LVDTs Load Cells
Torsional Monotonic Testing(-225 to 225) Nm(0 to 15) Revolutions
Customer supplied specifications Laboratory developed specifications approved by the client
Mechanical components: medical, automotive, aerospace, heavy vehicle, agricultural, defense, and consumer products
Load Frames Controllers LVDTs ADTs Load Cells
Torque Controlled Cyclic Testing(-225 to 225) Nm(0 to 270) degrees(0 to 5) Hz
Customer supplied specifications Laboratory developed specifications approved by the client
Mechanical components: medical, automotive, aerospace, heavy vehicle, agricultural, defense, and consumer products
Load Frames Controllers LVDTs ADTs Load Cells
Fracture Toughness Testing(-250 000 to 250 000) N(Up to 5) in
ASTM E399 ASTM B645 ASTM E1820
All Metal Alloys
Load Frames Controllers LVDTs COD Gage Load Cells
Axial Fatigue Testing(Strain and Stress)(-250 000 to 250 000) N
MTS 810 Material Testing System The 810 Material Testing System delivers a broad array of testing capabilities for both low and high force static and dynamic testing.
Force Capacities: 25 kN to 100 kN
1st Calibrated Point as low as 2N
Dynamic Stroke: 152 mm
Materials: plastics to aluminum, composites and steel
Testing capability: Tensile to high cycle fatigue, fracture mechanics, and durability of components
MTS Landmark Floor-Standing and Table-Top MTS Landmark Systems deliver a broad array of testing capabilities for both low and high force static and dynamic testing.
Force Capacity: up to 250 kN
1st Calibrated Point as low as 2N
Dynamic Stroke: up to 250 mm
Materials: ranging in strength from plastics to aluminum, composites and steel
Testing capability: tension, compression, bending and fatigue tests; specialized tests for biomedical and biomechanical testing; and durability testing on small components
Mechanical Testing Lab Locations
The main mechanical testing facilities at JTL America are located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We offer a variety of top quality mechanical tests at this location including tension and compression testing, fatigue testing, etc. This testing facility is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 which is the global standard of quality governing the operation of testing laboratories. JTL America provides fast quotes and accepts projects all throughout Indiana, Michigan, Chicago/Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and more.
