Understanding Elongation and Tensile Strength Testing

What is elongation and tensile strength testing?

Elongation and tensile strength testing are methods to measure the ductility of a specimen through the application of tension. It’s a useful way of working out the plasticity of a material and can help you understand the ways it might behave when subjected to pressure. Want a better understanding of how elongation testing might fit into your process? We’ve got details of everything you need to know. 

How elongation testing works

Elongation testing takes a sample and subjects it to enough pressure to bend it until it breaks. It then measures the degree to which the sample has stretched without returning to its original shape after breaking. This is known as the specimen’s plastic deformation. 

The elongation tensile strength reading is typically normally expressed as a percentage, also known as percent elongation (% elongation). 

How to calculate percent elongation

It’s important you know your gauge length to carry out critical and accurate elongation tensile strength calculations. This consists of two measurement points: the first is the starting distance between the upper and lower grip edges; the second is the distance traveled by the grips when the sample breaks. Elongation is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the original gauge length. 

Our highly accurate elongation tensile strength testing devices offer insightful information on how far a sample will stretch before breakage, including our efficient and accurate UTM machines. 

Check out how a UTM could work in your setup

Have a look at this short video guide to universal testing machines from United Testing for an idea of how elongation testing could easily be added to your test and measurement solution.

Elongation testing that meets industry standards

Many standards have been established to guide elongation tensile strength testing, and no matter which industry you’re working in, we can help you get the accurate measurements you need. Our reliable elongation testing equipment will ensure you enjoy consistent, repeatable results to meet or exceed all the main testing standards. 

ASTM A36 / A36M – 14L carbon structural steel testing

ASTM A36 / A36M covers carbon structural steel shapes, plates, and bars of structural quality for use in riveted, bolted, or welded construction of bridges and buildings, and for general structural purposes. Using heat analysis, you can determine the required chemical composition for carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, and copper. Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation tensile strength can be evaluated using tension testing. 

Industrial Physics creates a wide range of metal testing devices and accessories. Talk to us about the best instruments to support your ASTM 36 / A36M testing.  

ASTM A370 – 17a: steel testing

ASTM A370 is one of the most broadly recognized and encompassing standards for measuring the tensile strength of metals. It’s used by many industries, such as construction and automotive manufacturing, where safety is dependent on the quality of materials. 

We make a range of wedge grips that are compliant with the tensile strength and elongation testing requirements of ASTM A370. These include our United Testing Deluxe Action Wedge Grip and our United Testing A-20 Wedge Grips. 

ASTM A500 / A500M tube testing

The ASTM A500 / A500M testing standard covers cold-formed welded and seamless carbon steel round, square, rectangular, or special-shaped structural tubing. This tubing is used in welded, riveted, or bolted construction of bridges and buildings, and for general structural purposes. 

Across the Industrial Physics portfolio we make a wide variety of test and measurement devices for industrial tube testing. Get in touch to talk about the right device to support your ASTM A500 / A500M testing. 

ASTM A931 – 08(2013): wire rope tensile testing

This ASTM A931 testing method covers the elongation tensile strength testing of wire ropes and strands at room temperature, specifically to determine the measured breaking force, yield strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity.  

Talk to us about some of the wire rope testing and measurement devices we manufacture and how they could support you with your ASTM A931 testing.

ASTM D1456 – 86(2014): rubber elongation testing

ASTM D146 is a tensile strength and elongation testing method that was developed for testing soft vulcanized rubber compounds under a specified stress.

This elongation testing method is useful for determining the variability in material and the influence of parameters affecting the stress-strain properties of rubber vulcanizates, for example, temperature, relative humidity or the preconditioning of rubber.

Across the Industrial Physics portfolio, we manufacture lots of products to support your rubber testing. Get in touch with us to discuss the right devices for your needs.    

ASTM D3759 / D3759M – 05(2011): breaking strength and elongation testing of pressure-sensitive tape

The ASTM D3759 / D3759M test method helps you measure the breaking strength and elongation properties of pressure-sensitive tapes and labels. It includes procedures for machine direction and cross direction, for high-strength filament reinforced backings and for high stretch backings. 

So how can we help you? Firstly, we make a wide range of adhesive tapes for all manner of testing applications. We also have test and measurement devices for adhesion testing and for a wide range of tensile testing applications.   

ASTM D412 – 16: tension testing of vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic elastomers – tension

The ASTM D412 test methods were developed to evaluate the tensile (tension) properties of vulcanized thermoset rubbers and thermoplastic elastomers. The two approaches, which are not applicable to ebonite and similar hard, low elongation materials, are as follows: 

• ASTM D412: Test method A: dumbbell and straight section specimens 

• ASTM D412: Test method B: cut ring specimens. 

Some of the ASTM D412 tensile testing compliant testing devices and accessories we make include our United Testing Parallel Dogbone Grips, ideal for gripping a variety of rubber, plastic and thin metal samples and testing up to 1,000 lbf. 

ASTM D4595-17: rubber and thermoplastic elastomers testing

ASTM D4595-17 is a testing standard developed for testing the tensile properties of geotextiles using the wide-width strip method. This elongation in tensile testing method is applicable to most geotextiles that include woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, layered fabrics, knit fabrics, and felts that are used for geotextile application. 

You’ll find lots of nonwoven testing options across the Industrial Physics catalog. Browse through the nonwoven testing products list for yourself or get in touch to discuss how we can support your organization’s ASTM D4595-17 testing requirements. 

ASTM D4632/D4632M-15a: grab breaking load and elongation testing of geotextiles

The ASTM D4632/D4632M test method is an index test that provides a procedure for determining the breaking load (grab strength) and elongation (grab elongation) of geotextiles using the grab method.

See the information provided for ASTM D4595-17 above for information on how we can support you with your ASTM D4632/D4632M elongation testing. 

ASTM D5035-11(2015): breaking force and elongation testing of textile fabrics

The ATSM D5035-11 uses what’s known as the ‘strip method’ to test the breaking force and elongation tensile strength properties of textile fabrics. It’s a test method used for acceptance testing of commercial shipments of woven textile fabrics.

Industrial Physics is a cut above the rest when it comes to textile testing. Talk to us about the wide selection of universal testing machines and other textile testing devices we make to support your ASTM D5035-11 testing. 

ASTM D5083 – 17: tensile testing of reinforced thermosetting plastics using straight-sided specimens

The ASTM D5083 plastic testing method helps you to determine the tensile properties of thermosetting reinforced plastics. You’ll need to work with test specimens of uniform nominal width, tested under defined conditions of pretreatment, temperature, humidity, and testing-machine speed.

We make plastic testing test and measurement devices for a wide range of applications. Come talk to us about perfecting your ASTM D5083 testing process. 

ASTM D638 – 14: tensile testing of plastics

The ASTM D638 tensile testing method helps you to determine the tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics in the form of standard dumbbell-shaped test specimens. For the test to be repeatable you’ll need to establish the conditions of pretreatment, temperature, humidity, and tensile testing machine speed. 

We offer a range of products that support tensile testing to ASTM D638 standards. For example, there’s our fully compliant range of wedge grips such as the United Testing A-60 Wedge Grips. Also, from United Testing, there’s our United Testing A-30 Wedge Grips. 

ASTM D882 – 12 – tensile testing of thin plastic sheeting

The ASTM D882 – 12 tensile testing method helps you to understand the elongation tensile strength properties of plastics in the form of thin sheeting and films (less than 1.0mm in thickness).

Some of the instruments we make to support your ASTM D882-12 testing include our tabletop universal universal testing machines.

ASTM E8 / E8M – 16a: tension testing for metallic materials

These ASTM E8 / E8M test methods are used for acceptance testing of commercial shipments of metallic materials. These elongation and tensile strength testing methods have been used extensively in the trade for this purpose. 

ASTM E8 covers the tension testing of metallic materials in any form at room temperature, specifically, the methods of determination of yield strength, yield point elongation, tensile strength, elongation, and reduction of area. The range of wedge grips covered in the information above on ASTM D638-14 and ASTM A370-17a can also help you with your ASTM E8 testing.

B557-15: tension testing of aluminum – and magnesium-alloy products

The B557-15 elongation tensile strength testing methods cover wrought and cast aluminum – and magnesium-alloy products. Tension testing is useful in comparisons of materials, alloy development, quality control, and design under certain circumstances. 

Within the portfolio of Industrial Physics metal testing you’ll find lots of devices to support your B557-15 testing, and we welcome you to come and speak with us about the right instruments for your needs. 

Additional elongation testing options

If you haven’t found the products you are looking for in the posts above then it’s no stretch to say we have loads more elongation testing options to choose from! These include the LCH Speedy Tester  and both the TMI BüchelX250 (562 Lbf) Universal Tensile Testing Machine and the TMI Büchel X100 Model 1kN Single Column Tensile Tester. 

Get your elongation testing set up with Industrial Physics

Industrial Physics’ companies have been in the test and measurement game for many decades, and we’ve learnt a great deal about elongation testing over the years. Now we’re happy to be able to pass that knowledge on to you. If you’re looking for help setting up a QA process or adding elongation testing to your current roster, we can help. Visit our product area to browse through our vast range of elongation testing solutions.