Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Tensile testing of materials

I'm trying to compare the mechanical properties of three different materials, one of the test I conducted was a tensile test. My problem is that the three materials are of different thicknesses, is there any way of still relating the results I obtain from the tests?

Gboyex Ake
plating - London, England
2004

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Tensile strength is expressed per unit of cross-sectional area, so the thickness of the material is already taken into account in rating the tenisle strength. But other than noting that, your question is to vague for me to understand.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004

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Tensile testing can be carried out on an Instron instrument and there are set procedures for its operation. These should be followed and you will have directly comparible results. As Ted says, the tensile strength is related to cross sectional area, so, if you do not use standard test specimens, you can take this into account when doing the calculations. I think you need to give more detail of exactly what you are doing before you will get any definitive replies.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004