Mechanical Properties and Their Measurement

Almost every modern convenience relies, in some way, on the ability of metals and alloys to take on function and form and predictably maintain it over long periods of time under extreme operating conditions. The extent to which metals can be pushed, the limits of endurance under static and dynamic force loads, high-energy impacts, twisting, bending, and other applied stresses, is usually established by conducting standard mechanical tests that are described in detail in “Mechanical Properties and Their Measurement.” In this self-guided digital course, students will learn – with the help of rich visuals, narrated animations, demonstration videos, and interactive quizzes – how to measure properties such as tensile strength, hardness, and impact resistance and what the tests reveal about material behavior and failure mechanisms, including fracture, creep, and fatigue. The course also includes information on ASTM test procedures and how they avoid measurement-induced errors stemming from metallurgical and microstructural changes.

Target Audience

• Design Engineers
• Operators
• Technicians
• Process Engineers
• QA Managers
• Product Development Specialists
• Sales and Purchasing Professionals

Learning Objectives

• Outline the procedures for performing tensile and hardness tests
• List the three categories of properties measured by the tensile test
• Describe a fatigue test in general terms
• Define yield and ultimate strengths, elongation in two inches, impact toughness, creep rate, and fatigue endurance limits

Course Outline

• Stress, strain and stress-strain curves
• Tensile Testing
• Hardness Testing
• Impact Test
• Creep Testing
• Fatigue Testing
• Grain Size