Destructive Test

Introduction

As the name suggests, destructive testing (DT) includes

methods where the material is broken down in order to
determine mechanical properties, such as strength,
toughness and hardness.
Advantages of Destructive Testing (DT)
• Verifies properties of a material
• Determines quality of welds
• Helps to reduce failures, accidents and costs
• Ensures compliance with regulations

TENSILE TEST

A tensile test, also known as tension test, is probably the

most fundamental type of mechanical test is performed
on a material. Tensile tests are simple, relatively
inexpensive, and fully standardized. By pulling on
something, you will very quickly determine how the
material will react to forces being applied in tension. As
the material is being pulled, you will find its strength
along with how much it will elongate.
COMPRESSION TEST
Method for determining behavior of materials under
crushing loads. Specimen is compressed, and
deformation at various loads is recorded. Compressive
stress and strain are calculated and plotted as a stress-
strain diagram which is used to determine elastic limit,
proportional limit, yield point, yield strength and (for
some materials) compressive strength.

"Axial compression testing is a useful procedure for

measuring the plastic flow behavior and ductile fracture
limits of a material. Measuring the plastic flow behavior
requires frictionless (homogenous compression) test
conditions, while measuring ductile fracture limits takes
advantage of the barrel formation and controlled stress
and strain conditions at the equator of the barreled
surface when compression is carried out with friction.
Axial compression testing is also useful for measurement
of elastic and compressive fracture properties of brittle

materials or low-ductility materials. In any case, the use

of specimens having large L/D ratios should be avoided
to prevent buckling and shearing modes of
deformation1."
The image at right shows variation of the strains
during a compression test without friction
(homogenous compression) and with progressively
higher levels of friction and decreasing aspect ratio
L/D (shown as H/D)1.

BENDING TEST

The flexure test method measures behavior of materials

subjected to simple beam loading. It is also called a
transverse beam test with some materials. Maximum
fiber stress and maximum strain are calculated for
increments of load. Results are plotted in a stress-strain
diagram. Flexural strength is defined as the maximum
stress in the outermost fiber. This is calculated at the
surface of the specimen on the convex or tension side.
Flexural modulus is calculated from the slope of the
stress vs. deflection curve. If the curve has no linear
region, a secant line is fitted to the curve to determine
slope.
A flexure test produces tensile stress in the convex side
of the specimen and compression stress in the concave
side. This creates an area of shear stress along the
midline. To ensure the primary failure comes from tensile
or compression stress the shear stress must be minimized.
This is done by controlling the span to depth ratio; the
length of the outer span divided by the height (depth) of
the specimen. For most materials S/d=16 is acceptable.
Some materials require S/d=32 to 64 to keep the shear
stress low enough.
TORSION TEST
A torsion test measures the strength of any material
against maximum twisting forces. It is an extremely
common test used in material mechanics to measure how
much of a twist a certain material can withstand before
cracking or breaking. This applied pressure is referred to
as torque. Materials typically used in the manufacturing
industry, such as metal fasteners and beams, are often
subject to torsion testing to determine their strength
under duress.
There are three broad categories under which a torsion
test can take place:
• Failure testing: it involves twisting the material
until it breaks.
• Proof testing: it is used to observe whether a
material can bear a certain amount of torque load
over a given period of time.
• Operational testing: it is used to test specific
products to confirm their elastic limit before going
on the market.
It is critical for the results of each torsion test to be
recorded. Recording is done through creating a stress-
strain diagram with the angle of twist values on the X-
axis and the torque values on the Y-axis. Using a torsion
testing apparatus, twisting is performed at quarter-
degree increments with the torque that it can withstand
recorded. The strain corresponds to the twist angle, and
the stress corresponds to the torque measured. After
testing, metal materials are categorized as being either
ductile or brittle. Ductile metals such as steel or
aluminium have high elastic limits and can withstand a
great deal of strain before breaking. Brittle materials
such as cast iron and concrete have low elastic limits
and do not require much strain before rupturing.
Without performing a torsion test, materials would not
be properly vetted before being released for industrial
use. It is of paramount importance that the ability for a
material to bear a certain amount of twisting is
accurately measured. Otherwise, structures and
machines that depend on such materials could break
down causing instability, work flow interruption or even
significant damage and injury.
• Torsion test is not widely accepted as much as
tensile test.
• Torsion tests are made on materials to determine
such properties as the modulus of elasticity in shear,
the torsion yield strength and the modulus of
rupture.
• Often used for testing brittle materials and can be
tested in full-sized parts, i.e., shafts, axles and twist
drills which are subjected to torsional loading in
service.
HARDNESS TEST:
Hardness is the resistance of a material to permanent
indentation. It is important to recognize that hardness
test is an empirical test and therefore hardness is not a
material property. This is because there are several
different hardness tests that will each determine a
different hardness value for the same piece of material.
Therefore, hardness depends on the test method and
every test result has a label identifying the test method
used.

Hardness is, however, used extensively to characterize

materials and to determine if they are suitable for their
intended use or not. All of the hardness tests described
below involves the use of a specifically shaped indenter,
significantly harder than the test sample that is pressed
into the surface of the sample using a specific force.
Either the depth or size of the indent is measured to
determine a hardness value.

Advantages of Hardness Test:

 • Easy to perform
• Quick - 1 to 30 seconds
• Relatively inexpensive
• Finished parts can be tested - but not ruined
• Virtually any size and shape can be tested

The most common uses for hardness tests is to verify

the heat treatment of a part and to determine if a
material has the properties necessary for its intended
use. Establishing a correlation between the hardness
result and the desired material property allows this,
making hardness tests very useful in industrial and
R&D applications. Hardness Scales:
There are five major hardness scales:
• Brinell - HB
• Knoop - HK
• Rockwell - HR
• Shore - HS
• Vickers – HV