Mechanical material tests

Charpy impact test

The Charpy impact test is a standardised test characterised by rapid plastic deformation, in which one measures the amount of energy absorbed by the material when it is broken. The energy absorbed is a measure of the material's formability. The test was developed in 1905 and is still widely used in industry today, because it requires little preparation, is easy to perform and the results are obtained quickly and inexpensively.

Tensile test

A fundamental test in materials science in which a sample is subjected to uniaxial stress until it breaks. The results of such tests are often used in material selection, quality control and to attempt to predict the behaviour of a material under different conditions.

The tensile test sample is put into a conditioned room in a machine that allows for greater temperature control. When the desired temperature has been reached, the machine can be started. The machine exerts a tensile force upon the sample, which stretches it until it breaks. Measuring the extension and total force required to break the sample allows us to verify the safety of materials used in nuclear power plants.