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Structural materials are required to withstand a variety of applied loads in use. Understanding how these materials respond to applied loads is vital for informed materials selection. Here you can investigate how materials behave under tensile loading (loads applied along the length of a material to cause stretching).
This is only the LITE version, the full version (wtih all materials) is availabe via log-in.
Press GO to launch the experiment!
What is ‘Tensile Testing’?
The ‘tensile’ properties of a material describe its most basic mechanical behaviour – how much does a material stretch when it is pulled and how much of the stretching is permanent? ‘Tensile Testing’ is the process of measuring a material’s tensile properties.
Why are tensile properties important?
Understanding of tensile properties is vital for any application that uses materials structurally, i.e. to withstand or apply force. The range of uses this covers is enormous. Strong and stiff structures are used in vehicles (cycles, cars, trains, aeroplanes, spacecraft), bridges and buildings, sports equipment and bio-implants (e.g. hip joint replacements). Flexible materials are also used in many of these applications. Thin but robust materials are used in touchscreens. Hard materials are used in machines and robots that process and shape other materials and as durable coatings that improve the performance and lifetime of aerospace and bio-implant components. Elastic materials can be stretched enormously before any permanent change is made and are used in springs and high performance fabrics. And it’s not just how a component is used – many manufacturing processes involve changing a component’s shape or response to applied forces, e.g. extrusion to make tubes, beams and bottles; drawing to make springs or wires; or forging and rolling to shape and harden metals.
Use this experiment to find out more!
Download the file below for the quick guide for the Tensile Testing experiment (requires login) or follow these brief instructions:
To select a sample:
To set the strain increment:
To apply strain to samples:
Download the file below for full instructions for the Tensile Testing experiment (requires login).
Structural materials are required to withstand a variety of applied loads in use. Understanding how these materials respond to the applied loads is vital for informed materials selection. Here we investigate how materials behave under tensile loading (loads applied along the length of a material to cause stretching).
The Tensile Test experiment allows a number of mechanical tests to be performed on materials, including:
Download the file below for activities for the Tensile Testing experiment (requires login).
(Available as separate downloads or all activities)
*NEW* Now also available in editable Microsoft Word format
We have also provided a spreadsheet file to allow you to enter your SAMPLE WIDTH, STRAIN and APPLIED LOAD data and obtain stress-strain plots. (HINT: to investigate the general form of stress-strain curves with younger students, use a default sample width of, say, 7 mm)
Download: Tensile testing - Quick Activities Download: Tensile testing - Activity 1 - Elastic Deformation Download: Tensile testing - Activity 2 - Plastic Deformation Download: Tensile testing - Activity 3 - Fracture Download: Tensile Testing - Spreadsheet0 Download: Tensile testing - All Activities PDF Download: Tensile testing - All Activities Word fWatch the video above and download the file below for the background science behind the Tensile Testing experiment (requires log in).
Download: Tensile testing background
Structural materials are required to withstand a variety of applied loads in use. Understanding how these materials respond to applied loads is vital for informed materials selection. Here you can investigate how materials behave under tensile loading (loads applied along the length of a material to cause stretching).
Press GO to launch the experiment!
What is ‘Tensile Testing’?
The ‘tensile’ properties of a material describe its most basic mechanical behaviour – how much does a material stretch when it is pulled and how much of the stretching is permanent? ‘Tensile Testing’ is the process of measuring a material’s tensile properties.
Why are tensile properties important?
Understanding of tensile properties is vital for any application that uses materials structurally, i.e. to withstand or apply force. The range of uses this covers is enormous. Strong and stiff structures are used in vehicles (cycles, cars, trains, aeroplanes, spacecraft), bridges and buildings, sports equipment and bio-implants (e.g. hip joint replacements). Flexible materials are also used in many of these applications. Thin but robust materials are used in touchscreens. Hard materials are used in machines and robots that process and shape other materials and as durable coatings that improve the performance and lifetime of aerospace and bio-implant components. Elastic materials can be stretched enormously before any permanent change is made and are used in springs and high performance fabrics. And it’s not just how a component is used – many manufacturing processes involve changing a component’s shape or response to applied forces, e.g. extrusion to make tubes, beams and bottles; drawing to make springs or wires; or forging and rolling to shape and harden metals.
Use this experiment to find out more!
Download the file below for the quick guide for the Tensile Testing experiment (requires login) or follow these brief instructions:
To select a sample:
To set the strain increment:
To apply strain to samples:
Download the file below for full instructions for the Tensile Testing experiment (requires login).
Structural materials are required to withstand a variety of applied loads in use. Understanding how these materials respond to the applied loads is vital for informed materials selection. Here we investigate how materials behave under tensile loading (loads applied along the length of a material to cause stretching).
The Tensile Test experiment allows a number of mechanical tests to be performed on materials, including:
Download the files below for activities for the Tensile Testing experiment (requires login).
(Available as separate downloads or all activities)
*NEW* Now also available in editable Microsoft Word format
We have also provided a spreadsheet file to allow you to enter your SAMPLE WIDTH, STRAIN and APPLIED LOAD data and obtain stress-strain plots. (HINT: to investigate the general form of stress-strain curves with younger students, use a default sample width of, say, 7 mm)
Watch the video above and download the file below for the background science behind the Tensile Testing experiment (requires log in).
Measuring Young's modulus of of wire made from one of two steel alloys, aluminum, copper or nylon.
What is 'Young's modulus'?
Materials stretch when they are pulled. Some materials stretch easily under a force that pulls them, whereas others are stiff and only stretch a little under the same force.
The Young's modulus tells us how much a material stretches in response to being pulled.
Why does this matter?
Knowing the Young's modulus of materials helps us choose what to make structural components from, i.e. any component that withstands or applies force.
Strong and stiff structures are used in vehicles (cycles, cars, trains, aeroplanes, spacecraft), bridges and buildings, sports equipment, and structural bio-implants (e.g. hip joint replacements).
Flexible materials that can bend and stretch without damage are important for gas seals, wearable electronics devices, pressure sensors, biomedical tech that support new tissue growth, footwear and sports equipment, and vibration isolation.
How do we measure Young's modulus?
Carefully! The Young's Modulus experiment allows you to control how much force is applied to a wire material and measure how much it stretches.
Use this experiment to find out more!
Download the file below for the quick guide for the Young's modulus experiment (requires login).
Download the file below for full instructions for the Young's modulus experiment (requires log in).
Download the file below for activities for the Young's modulus experiment (requires log in).
Download the file below for the background science behind the Young's modulue experiment (requires log in).
