Chapter 1: Introduction to Tensile Testing

Tensile tests are performed for several reasons related to materials development, comparison, selection, and quality control. The properties derived from tensile tests are used in selecting materials for engineering applications. Tensile properties often are used to predict or estimate the behavior of a material under forms of loading other than uniaxial tension. This chapter provides a brief overview of tensile specimens and test machines, stress-strain curves, true stress and strain, and test methodology and data analysis.