Mechanical Testing

Mechanical testing is performed to measure the material’s structural limits before failure when subjected to static or dynamic forces. Destructive mechanical testing plays a vital role in raw material selection, determining effects of heat and other treatments, validating FEA models for engineering components, quality control, and failure analysis and prevention. Mechanical testing methodologies have been employed to characterize a diverse range of materials from metals, composite materials, electronic components to biological tissues, and nanomaterials.

Product-specific testing programs and equipment are available for characterizing polymers and other specialty samples like bio and nanomaterials. Examples include dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), nanoindentation tests, etc. Comprehensive characterization of products is achieved through mechanical testing and chemical, thermal, or other simulated environmental analysis like humidity and vibration testing. Failed products are routinely subjected to failure and root cause analysis investigations to reveal the failure mechanism.