Five Important Factors That Influence Mechanical Testing
Mechanical testing is extremely important for manufacturers to ensure that both quality and productivity remain high with company machinery.
Manufacturers cannot maintain the profitability of their facilities if testing doesn't ensure that materials and equipment are meeting specifications and performing adequately.
Mechanical testing needs to take a variety of factors into account to offer the most benefit to manufacturing operations. The following are five important factors that influence mechanical testing and need to be taken into account when manufacturers plan their mechanical testing processes.
Pertinent mechanical properties
When performing mechanical testing, you need to be aware of which mechanical properties are of particular interest in your operation. There are a variety of different mechanical properties that testing can examine including ductility, strength, torsion, bending, fatigue, wear resistance, and shear.
When planning your mechanical testing procedures, you need to focus on which properties are pertinent to your operations and what quantities you need to measure to optimize your manufacturing processes
Impact strength of materials
Mechanical testing focusing on impact strength involves a pendulum test. A pendulum strikes the test pieces, and the test piece will break while absorbing the energy of the impact.
Impact strength testing can consist of either Izod testing or Charpy testing. Both of these types of impact test rely on temperature readings. However, Izod testing involves measuring ambient temperature while Charpy testing is temperature controlled and involves focused local temperature reading.
Hardness of materials
Hardness needs to be mechanically tested because it is not a property that is necessarily inherent in materials. It is a property that is determined by the elastic behavior of a unique sample or a material and the deformation of that sample.
There are numerous methods available for testing hardness. Some options are the Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell, or Rebound tests. Generally speaking, these tests involve applying a load or pressure to a sharply focused point on the test piece and testing the reaction of the material.
Examination of tensile strength
Tensile strength is usually tested with a cross-section of a material and the stretching of that material in two opposite directions. Test measurements include the quantity of the grip separation and the load.
Tensile strength testing is necessary for products that are stretched out during regular use or mechanical systems that include components under frequent tension.
Capability of materials to resist corrosion
Corrosion resistance is important in any metallic material. If a product or mechanical system is prone to corrosion, it can be quickly weakened and destroyed. Testing for corrosion can be done by observing a material's reaction to salt sprays.