Shear Strength Testing Services

Shear Strength Testing Services

Shear strength testing is used to determine the load that a plastic or film will yield when sheared between two metal edges. Shear strength results are important to designers of film and sheet products that are prone to shear loading or in applications where the applied crush loads present a risk.

There are various types of standards available for measuring the shear strength of various types of material: 

• ASTM D732 – Standard test method for shear strength of plastics by punch tool
• ASTM D3846 – Standard test method for in-plane shear strength of reinforced plastics
• ASTM F1362 – Standard test method for shear strength and shear modulus of aerospace glazing interlayer materials
• ASTM C961 – Standard test method for lap shear strength of sealants
• ASTM D3914 – Standard test method for in-plane shear strength of pultruded glass-reinforced plastic rod
• ASTM D5169 – Standard test method for shear strength (dynamic method) of hook and loop touch fasteners 
• ASTM D4562 – Standard test method for shear strength of adhesives using pin-and-collar specimen
• ASTM C1292 – Standard test method for shear strength of continuous fiber-reinforced advanced ceramics at ambient temperatures
• ASTM C1469 – Standard test method for shear strength of joints of advanced ceramics at ambient temperature
• ASTM D7617/D7617M – Standard test method for transverse shear strength of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite bars

Generally, three materials are shear tested – rigid substrates, adhesives, and layered composites. Rigid substrates can be made of metal, plastic, ceramic, composites, or wood, but are usually solid and used as building materials or fasteners.

Common Uses of Shear Strength Testing

• Used to determine attributes such as shear strain, shear stress, and shear modulus, reporting stress, strain, modulus, and failure mode for plastics, composites.
• It is essential to account for the ‘ductile’ mechanical properties of the other samples.

Advantages of Shear Strength Testing

• Easy sample preparation.
• Convenient and easy test.
• Due to the relatively small sample thickness, dehydration occurs rapidly and the pore pressure drops very quickly.
• Integrated undrained and drained tests take very little time.

Industrial Applications of Shear Strength Testing

• Construction
• Automotive
• Aerospace