Material Testing
Material testing subjects matters to various mechanical, physical, chemical, and thermal tests to assess their property characteristics and behavior under specific conditions. This includes various forms of force to determine values of fatigue, strength, and failure.
The primary goals of material testing are to determine the material’s suitability for a particular application, ensure quality control, and understand its performance characteristics during various use cases. It is also critical testing for adherence to compliance and regulatory standards.
Force measurement plays a huge part during material testing of materials used for various parts, products, structures, and consumer goods. Interface products are commonly found in test machines and equipment used for material testing. Material testing engineers utilize our force sensor technologies, including LowProfile and miniature load cells, DAQ systems, and instrumentation to measure and record the durability, fatigue, safety, and quality of the materials.
Interface’s force sensors are most often used in the material testing category of mechanical testing, including:
- Hardness Testing
- Tensile Testing
- Impact Testing
- Bending Testing
- Fracture Toughness Testing
- Compression testing
- Creep Testing
- Fatigue Testing
- Nondestructive Testing
These types of material tests are used across industries, including medical, infrastructure, aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, manufacturing, consumer goods and in the machines used to assemble products.
Material testing starts early in the research and development phases of product development and continues through packaging. Load cells are used for testing a wide variety of materials across different industries. Materials commonly tested used force measurement solutions:
Metals: Steel, aluminum, and other metallic materials are frequently tested using load cells to determine their tensile and compression strength, yield, fatigue, and other mechanical properties.
Plastics: Load cells are used to test the mechanical properties of polymers and plastics for all types of use cases including tensile strength, bending range and elasticity. As new products are used for 3D printing, this is growing in test use cases.
Construction Materials: Interface precision sensors are used in the material testing of concrete, cement, and construction materials to evaluate their compressive strength, shear strength, and load-bearing capacity.
Textiles and Fabrics: Manufacturers utilize sensors to understand the tensile strength, resistance, and elasticity of textiles.
Biomaterials: Bio researchers use data from load cells to study the mechanical properties of these materials utilized in medical devices, implants, and other health related products.
The versatility of Interface load cells and the accuracy for measurement are why material engineers choose our products for material tests.
MaterialTesting_InfographicPoster
ForceLeaders Summit 2026 Huntsville
/in Trade Show /by Jamie GlassInterface’s exclusive ForceLeaders Summit returns to Huntsville on April 23, 2026. Join us in Alabama for a new advanced technical workshop. This year’s test and measurement topics include new products, best practices, complete systems, tools, and sensor technology tips. Our force measurement seminars bring together experts and engineers working on projects ranging from rockets to robots and aircraft to medical devices. Together, we will discuss load cells, torque transducers, calibration, systems, applications, advancements in digital and wireless technologies, and multi-axis sensors. Most importantly, we answer your questions. These are fast-paced, technical, hands-on events. Registration is required, with limited seating.
What is the Technical Difference Between DUT and UUT?
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface Tech Talk reviews the subtle differences when referencing a device under test (DUT) versus a unit under test (UUT). The distinction between DUT and UUT ultimately clarifies the test context, whether it is an isolated component under development or a finished unit undergoing final validation.
Interface Five-Phase Framework for Sensor Selection
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassSensor selection with Interface’s 5-phase framework is a checklist for optimizing your measurement system. The Sensor Selection Guide takes you through a series of important considerations when selecting the right devices for your project requirements. Go through the phases of characterization, mechanical fit, interconnect, instrumentation, and calibration. Learn how to optimize load cells, torque transducers, and multi-axis sensors for accuracy and reliability in this sensor-first approach.
High-Capacity Column Load Cell Technology
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface high-capacity column load cells have a canister design and are used for industrial, aerospace, infrastructure, and ruggedized testing environments. To address specific high-capacity requirements, Interface provides specialized column architectures ranging from calibration standards to redundant-bridge industrial models. Capacities range from 100,000 to 1,000,000 pounds of force. It is the choice for the primary choice for extreme-scale engineering. The technical appeal of the canister design lies in its construction.
Thrust Stands in Aerospace Test and Measurement
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassThrust stands are testing rigs built to measure propulsion output and efficiency of aerospace industry launches of rockets, aircraft, drones, and UAVs. Using Interface high-capacity load cells, the goal is to map the thrust curve and verify engine specifications against design requirements. Unlike the distributed loads encountered in structural testing, a thrust rig handles a concentrated axial force.
Visualizing Force Solutions Through Our Diverse Application Library
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface offers hundreds of application notes to explore by industry, use case, and sensor type. Force measurement application notes help you visualize what a sensor can do beyond the specifications and detail how it works. For engineers and testing professionals, the biggest hurdle isn’t often finding a sensor. It’s envisioning how that sensor will perform within a complex, real-world system of connected devices, structures, and analytics. Learn about app notes, top industry solutions, and get a copy of the latest Interface Applications Catalog.
The Testing Behind Your Favorite Gifts
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface offers a range of sensors for precise testing and force measurement across popular products such as gaming equipment, sports gear, electronics, scooters, and smartwatches. We take pride in ensuring these favorite gifts are safe, reliable, and durable well beyond the holiday season.
Why is Metrology Fundamental to Test and Measurement?
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassMetrology, the science of measurement, is the foundational pillar of the test and measurement industry. Metrology is critical for quality control, regulatory compliance, and the development of new products and processes across a wide range of industries. Interface LowProfile Load Cells and Gold Standard Calibration Solutions are standards of measurement excellence required in metrology.
Data Logging for Validation, Analysis, and Compliance
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassData logging indicators are the essential bridge that converts raw physical sensor signals into actionable, traceable intelligence. Interface’s extensive line of advanced data logging indicators captures load cell data vital for validation, compliance, and optimization. Neglecting data logging can result in costly blind spots. In critical aerospace, energy, automotive, medical, infrastructure, and R&D projects, logging data is fundamental to modern test and measurement.
Fundamentals of Fatigue Life Prediction
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface load cells accurately quantify the forces applied during fatigue testing for predicting failure. Fatigue refers to the weakening of material caused by repeatedly applied loads. Failure occurs after a certain number of cycles, even when the stresses are well below the material’s ultimate tensile strength. While an accurate prediction of fatigue life is not a reality, theoretical analysis and empirical data allow for useful approximations to estimate the margin of safety for a given design.