Tensile Strength Test

The term TENSILE STRENGTH may be defined as the resistance to longitudinal stress
or pull and is meas-ured in pounds per square inch of cross section. Testing for tensile
strength involves placing a weld sample in a tensile testing machine and pulling on the
test sample until it breaks.

The essential features of a tensile testing machine are the parts that pull the test
specimen and the devices that measure the resistance of the test specimen. Another
instrument, known as an extensometer or strain gauge, is also used to measure the
strain in the test piece. Some equipment comes with a device that records and plots the
stress-strain curve for a permanent record.

The tensile test is classified as a destructive test because the test specimen must be
loaded or stressed until it fails. Because of the design of the test machine, weld samples
must be machined to specific dimensions.

This explains why the test is made on a standard specimen, rather than on the part
itself. It is important that the test specimen represents the part. Not only must the
specimen be given the same heat treatment as the part but it also must be heat-treated
at the same time.

There are many standard types of tensile test specimens, and figure 7-70 shows one
standard type of specimen commonly used. The standard test piece is an accurately
machined specimen. Overall length is not a critical item, but the diameter and gauge
length are. The 0.505-inch-diameter (0.2 square inch area) cross section of the reduced
portion provides an easy factor to manipulate arithmetically. The 2-inch gauge length is
the distance between strain-measuring points. This is the portion of the specimen where
you attach the extensometer. In addition, you can use the gauge length to determine
percent elongation.

Figure 7-70.—Standard tensile test specimen.

The tensile test amounts to applying a smooth, steadily increasing load (or pull) on a
test specimen and measuring the resistance of the specimen until it breaks. Even if
recording equipment is not available, the testis not difficult to perform. During the test,
you observe the behavior of the specimen and record the extensometer and gauge
readings at regular intervals. After the specimen breaks and the fracturing load is
recorded, you measure the specimen with calipers to determine the percent of
elongation and the percent reduction in area. In addition, you should plot a stress-strain
curve. From the data obtained, you can determine tensile strength, yield point, elastic
limit, modulus of elasticity, and other properties of the material.