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
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.
Structural Testing with Interface Force Measurement Solutions
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassStructural testing is a vital practice in modern engineering, providing essential data for design improvement, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and proactively preventing failures. Structural testing guarantees the safety, reliability, and quality of everything from basic materials to the tallest […]
Precision Under Pressure in Tensile Testing Applications
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface load cells enable accurate tensile testing for material characterization, quality control, and R&D. Tensile testing applications using Interface force measurement devices include medical devices, 3D printing, aircraft, aerospace, automotive components, consumer products, fabrics, and more. Accurate measurement ensures product safety and performance.
New Force Measurement Education Resource Hub ForceEDU
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface ForceEDU™ is a central hub for educational test and measurement resources. It encompasses products, testing types, technical training, and professional development materials related to Interface’s cutting-edge sensor technologies and the broader testing world. Find videos, white papers, articles, case studies, training, 101 features, and more.
Clarity in Measurement Requires a Clear Display of Accurate Results
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface offers test and measurement display solutions, from large, easily visible LED readouts for quick monitoring of load cells, torque transducers, and multi-axis sensor data to sophisticated multi-channel indicators with advanced calibration features. Interface displays provide a clear and reliable view of your sensor data, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and confidence in your results.
Additional Types of Testing Using Load Cells
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface is renowned for its extensive product line of sensor technologies and testing solutions, catering to a diverse range of testing types used across various industries. Our standard and engineered-to-order models and capacities of force measurement products offer numerous options […]
Force Measurement Expands Environmental Testing Capabilities
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface supplies force measurement devices for environmental testing to confirm the reliability and longevity of products, components, and structures across diverse industries. It’s where designs are subjected to the rigors of real-world conditions, ensuring they can withstand extreme temperatures, humidity, vibrations, and a host of other environmental stressors.
Interface Measurement Solutions for Industry Testing Labs
/in Blog /by Jamie GlassInterface provides load cells, torque transducers, and instrumentation to automotive, aerospace, infrastructure, and medical device industry testing labs. Selecting standard equipment for a force measurement testing lab involves more than choosing the right transducer. Consider the entire testing ecosystem, including evaluating the mechanical connections, application, cycle counts, calibration standards, and environment.