Mechanical Testing

Mechanical Testing

Mechanical testing reveals the properties of a material under dynamic or static force. To ensure that materials are suitable for their intended applications, mechanical testing includes methods such as compression strength, tensile strength impact resistance, fracture toughness and fatigue.

MechTest offers a full suite of mechanical testing services for metallic and non-metallic materials, as well as components and specialty products. Whether testing to an Australian or international standards such as ASTM and ISO or developing a custom program, our experts can provide you with accurate, reliable results for projects large and small.

Tensile Testing

During tensile testing, a sample is subjected to a uniaxial tensile load until failure. Tensile load is generally applied at a specified rate to determine material properties including yield strength, maximum elongation, reduction in area, ultimate tensile strength. Often used for quality control and material selection.

Axial; Longitudinal; Transverse – AS 1391; ASTM A370; ASTM E8M; F606M; ISO 6892-1

Fastener Testing

Includes nuts, bolts, studs and assemblies. Used for quality control, product verification, pre-use proof loading and to validate batches to be supplied for Queensland and NSW government projects.

Hardness – AS 1252.1; AS 4291.1; AS/NZS 4291.2
Tensile including Wedge Test – AS 1252.1; AS 4291.1; AS/NZS 4291.2; MRTS 78; RMS B240
Proof load – AS 1252.1; AS 4291.1; AS/NZS 4291.2; MRTS 78; RMS B240
Assembly Tests – NSW Roads and Maritime Services – RMS B240

Hardness Testing

Indentation hardness tests are used to determine the resistance of a material to deformation.
The sampled material is indented under a specified load and an impression is formed, measured and hardness calculated.
Vickers/Micro Vickers / Rockwell and Knoop – AS 1817.1; AS 1815.1; ASTM E384; ISO 6507-1;
ISO 6508-1
Shore Durometer Hardness Testing Shore A and D

Cold Flattening

Testing to the requirements for cold-formed steel hollow sections for structural purposes, for the six grades of steel that are suitable for welding.

Tubing/Piping (Flattening) – AS 1163

Pressure Testing

Hydrostatic pressure confirms that a tested specimen conforms to its design criteria. It involves placing a liquid medium (often water) into the pipe, pipeline, cylinder, vessel, valve assembly, or other article. The pressure is increased to the requisite level to check for leaks and defects. Testing is usually done to a proof level but can be taken to destruction if necessary. (MechTest have the capability to 25000psi).
Safety is our top priority, and our rig comes equipped with numerous safety interlocks and controls to facilitate secure and meticulous testing of assemblies.

Charpy Impact Testing
(Polymers and composites)

The standard ISO 179-1 (non-instrumented impact strength test) delineates the Charpy impact test utilised for assessing plastic materials' impact characteristics, specifically impact strength and notched impact strength. The Charpy impact testing methodology is also referenced in the ASTM D6110 standard.
The Charpy method employs impact tests to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of plastic materials under high strain rates. An abrupt load is applied using a 3-point flexure fixture. Traditionally, the results of this method are expressed in terms of the energy absorption of the specimen.

Charpy Impact Testing of Metallic Materials

The Charpy impact test, commonly referred to as the Charpy V-notch test, is a high strain-rate test that evaluates the toughness of materials. In this test, a standard notched specimen is struck by a pendulum, which is swung from a predetermined height using a controlled weight. The purpose of this impact test is to measure the energy absorbed by the specimen during the fracture process.
When reporting the results of a Charpy test, the absorbed energy (measured in joules) is always included, while the percentage of crystallinity and lateral expansion are optional on the test report. It is important to note that Charpy tests are qualitative. The results can only be compared to one another or against specifications; they cannot be used to calculate the fracture toughness of a weld or parent metal.
MechTest is accredited to perform Charpy testing according to AS 1544.2, ASTM E23, AS 2205.7.4, ASTM A370, ISO 9016, and ISO 148, over a wide range of test temperatures.

Izod Notched Impact Testing
(Polymers and composites)

The ASTM D256 standard outlines the procedures for impact testing using the Izod method, aimed at assessing the pendulum impact resistance of plastics. Generally, within the framework of ASTM, the Izod test is employed to measure this resistance according to ASTM D256. In this test, a notched specimen is securely held at one end, and flexural impact stress is applied. The outcome is expressed as the energy absorption related to the specimen's thickness.
Izod impact tests are outlined in standards ISO 180 and ASTM D4508.

Compression Testing

Compression testing is a technique used in materials science and engineering to determine the mechanical properties of a material, specifically its ability to withstand compressive forces or loads. This type of testing is commonly performed on materials like metals, plastics, ceramics, and concrete to understand how they behave under different levels of compression.

Flexural/Modulus of Bend Test

The flexural or modulus of bend test, commonly known as the three-point bending test, is a mechanical test used to determine the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity of a material. This test is particularly useful for brittle materials like ceramics, composites, and concrete, as well as for some polymers. It provides valuable information about the material's ability to withstand bending or flexural loads, which is important for assessing its performance in real-world applications where bending forces are involved.

Other

It is difficult to list all the possibilities that arise in the field of mechanical testing. We are a NATA accredited laboratory with extensive experience. We also partner with experts in a multitude of environments. If we can not offer a service directly we can control and manage the processes required to access the right people to generate the best outcome.