Bangcola, Yusoph Salahaddin Pat A.

MATERIALS TESTING
1. Tensile Test A tensile test is a method for determining
behavior of materials under axial tensile
loading. The tests are conducted by
fixturing the specimen into the test
apparatus and then applying a force to the
specimen by separating the testing machine
crossheads. The crosshead speed can be
varied to control the rate of strain in the test
specimen. Data from the test are used to
determine tensile strength, yield strength,
and modulus of elasticity. Measurement of
the specimen dimensions after testing also
provides reduction of area and elongation
values to characterize the ductility of the
material. Tensile tests can be performed on
many materials, including metals, plastics,
fibers, adhesives, and rubbers. Testing can
be performed at subambient and elevated
temperatures.
2. Compression Test A compression test is a method for
determining the behavior of materials
under a compressive load. Compression
tests are conducted by loading the test
specimen between two plates, and then
applying a force to the specimen by
moving the crossheads together. During the
test, the specimen is compressed, and
deformation versus the applied load is
recorded. The compression test is used to
determine elastic limit, proportional limit,
yield point, yield strength, and (for some
materials) compressive strength.
3. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Linear Thermal Expansion is used to
determine the rate at which a material
expands as a function of temperature. This
test can be used for design purposes and to
determine if failure by thermal stress may
occur. Understanding the relative
expansion/contraction characteristics of
two materials in contact can be important
for application success.
4. Beam Deflection The most critical laboratory equipment
useful in material testing is Beam
 Deflection Apparatus (BDA) which is
useful in the determination of elastic
modulus of engineering materials and
among others. It was designed to comprise
a spring, dial gauge, beam support and
measuring scale. The spring permitted the
horizontal movement, while the deflection
of beam was measured by the dial gauge
with the scale measuring the length of the
expansion.
5. Shear/Torsion Test Torsion testing involves the twisting of a
sample along an axis and is a useful test for
acquiring information like torsional shear
stress, maximum torque, shear modulus,
and breaking angle of a material or the
interface between two materials. Typically
a longitudinal sample is placed in a torsion
tester and one end of the sample is twisted
around the long axis until failure, during
which the force, or in the case of rotation
the torque, and the displacement, or in the
case of rotation the angular displacement,
are recorded. Torsion testing is appropriate
for materials that may experience a
torsional load like a metallic bone screw,
an intramedullary rod, rubber tubing that
may become twisted, or to measure the
shear strength of a bond between an
implant and native tissue like bone.

References: Materials Evaluation and Engineering, Inc. (2019). Tension and

Compression Testing. Retrieved from https://www.mee-inc.com/hamm/tension-and-
compression-testing/

Kareem (2012). International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT).

Development of a Beam Deflection Apparatus from Locally Sourced Material. Retrieved
from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304674945_Development_of_a_Beam_Deflecti
on_Apparatus_from_Locally_Sourced_Material

Khan (2019). Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering. Characterizing the Properties of

Tissue Constructs for Regenerative Engineering. Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383998970