Material Testing

Photo shows employee at an experimental setup.

When evaluating materials, it is essential to determine their mechanical-technological properties. With numerous test facilities, we conduct quasi-static, dynamic and cyclical tests.

All of the tests we conduct are carried out according to applicable regulations!

A selected list of our services:

Tensile, compression and bending tests

We determine the strength characteristics

Our equipment includes five universal testing machines (servo-hydraulic).

Technical data:

  • Load ranges: 2 kN to 1600 kN
  • Temperature ranges: -80 °C ≤ T ≤ 900 °C
  • Component tests: min. 350 mm, Do, max. 50 mm
  • Test standards: ISO 6892, ASTM A 370 (ASTM E23), ASTM E21 as well as ASTM E9 and DIN EN ISO 50106 in compression tests.

Instrumented notched bar impact tests

We determine the notch toughness

Technical data:

  • Energy: 300 J, 600 J and 750 J
  • Temperature ranges: -196° C ≤ T ≤ 350° C
  • Automatic evaluation of the force-displacement curve and characteristic force and deflection values
  • Test standards: DIN EN ISO 14556, DIN EN ISO 148, ASTM A 370, ASTM E23 and ASTM E 2248

Instrumented drop weight tests

Battelle drop weight tear test (BDWT test) for analyzing plate/sheet and pipe material’s susceptibility to brittle fracture.

Technical data:

  • Drop energy: up to 105 kJ
  • Drop height: up to 3.8 m
  • Specimen thickness: up to 50 mm
  • Possible recording of force-displacement curves for energy determination
  • With our high-speed camera, fracture behavior can be observed precisely
  • Test standards: API RP 5L3 and DIN EN 10274

Hardness testing – also mobile

... accoring to Vickers, Brinell and Rockwell C

Vickers:

  • HV1, HV5, HV10, HV30
  • Test standard: DIN EN ISO 6507

Rockwell:

  • HRC
  • Test standard: DIN EN ISO 6508

Brinell:

  • HBW 2,5/187,5
  • Test standard: DIN EN ISO 6506

Equotip (mobile hardness test)

Technological tests: Shear, flattening, ring flattening and ring flaring tests

Fatigue tests on servo-hydraulic testing machines and using the resonance principle

Cost-effective material characterization ...

... of pipe specimens, components and welds at high frequency (up to 160 Hz, depending on shape and stiffness of specimens).

Residual stress measurements: Hole-drilling, slitting and ring-core methods

Hot forming simulation

... with our Gleeble 3500 hot forming simulator

Versatile methods for testing tensile and compression strength at elevated temperatures.

Technical data:

  • Temperature range: Room temperature to 1,600 °C
  • Heating rate (conductive): up to 10,000 °C/s
  • Load range: +/- 50 kN
  • Forming velocity: up to 1 m/s
  • Atmosphere: Air, argon, vacuum

What we can do for you:

  • Prepare hot flow curves
  • Simulate continuous casting, hot rolling, welding and forging processes
  • Perform hot tensile tests – also from the molten phase
  • Perform crush tests
  • Perform heat treatment (temperature profiles)
  • Measure thermo-mechanical fatigue
  • Analyze susceptibility to hot cracking
  • ...

Torsion tests

Photo shows torsion machine with clamped tube before the torsion test.
Clamped pipe sample for torsion testing.

Testing with a twist!

We conduct torsions tests on specimens of up to 1.5 meters in length and up to 60 mm in diameter.

Technical data:

  • Servo-hydraulic angular encoder
  • Clamping length: up to 1,500 mm
  • Torque: up to 4,500 Nm
  • Frequency: up to 10 Hz
  • Standard: DIN 50100

Hydraulic ring collapse and ring flaring tests – static and cyclical

Fracture mechanics testing

  • CTOD, J-Integral, K
  • Standard specimen shapes: SENT, SENB, CT
  • Applied numerical methods: Crackwise, Abaqus
  • Standards/specifications: British Standard, ASTM, DNV, ISO – others available on request
  • Test ranges: 3 kN – 630 kN; -150 °C – +80 °C
  • Ring flaring and burst tests

Characterization of plate/sheet materials relative to forming technology

Photo shows employee inserting a sheet metal into the forming press.

Analysis and presentation of forming behavior

We conduct standardized tests up to and including practical testing of components under realistic conditions, e.g.

  • Tensile test
  • Forming limit diagram according to DIN EN ISO 12004-2
  • Erichsen deep draw test
  • Cupping test
  • Three-point bending test
  • Edge crack sensitivity test, e.g. hole expanding test according to ISO 16630

Strain-controlled Wöhler fatigue tests on base materials according to SEP1240

Photo shows a setup detail shot.
Test setup

We analyze fatigue strength in elastic-plastic cyclic deformation, whereby the size of the residual strains serves as a measure of the material damage. We do this with a strain-controlled Wöhler fatigue test.

As failure criterion, the number of cycles NA at crack formation is used in lieu of the number of cycles to failure NB. This test supplies the characteristic values of the material for the local calculation concept in the service life calculation of components.

Strain rate-dependent tensile tests on base materials according to SEP1230

With strain rate-dependent tensile tests, mechanical-technological properties such as strain limit, tensile strength and elastic modulus are characterized using stress-strain curves at different loading speeds. The measured values are recorded locally on the specimen by means of glued-on strain gages for precise force measurement as well as by an optical displacement measurement system for exact deformation measurement.

 

Creep tests

Photo shows a creep rupture detail shot.

We are the experts!

For the reliable evaluation of materials, we conduct creep tests with run times of up to 100,000 hours or more. The test results serve as a basis for the qualification of steel products, the analysis of the remaining service life of components in existing power stations and chemical plants, and the standardization of creep-resistant steels. We test materials in the as-delivered condition as well as components after having been subjected to operating loads. Along with the testing of rolled, forged and cast products, we also test welding filler materials and welds. In the analysis of creep results, we offer you scientific support. 

Our testing facilities at a glance:

  • 220 individual testing stations with test temperatures ranging from 400 °C to 950 °C
  • Test load up to 40 kN
  • Uninterrupted creep tests according to DIN EN ISO 204 in single-specimen ovens
  • Continuous strain measurement for the determination of creep in materials
  • Short and long-term testing with run times of up to 100,000 hours or more
  • Creep tests under controlled water vapor atmosphere as well as under cyclical load and variable temperature control
  • Accreditation according to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025-2005

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