Universal testing machine

<h2 id="electromechanical-and-hydraulic-testing-system">Electromechanical and Hydraulic Testing System</h2>
<p>An electromechanical UTM utilizes an electric motor to apply a controlled force, while a hydraulic UTM uses hydraulic systems for force application. Electromechanical UTMs are favored for their precision, speed, and ease of use, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including tensile, compression, and flexural testing.
</p><p>On the other hand, hydraulic UTMs are capable of generating higher forces and are often used for testing high-strength materials such as metals and alloys, where extreme force applications are required. Both types of UTMs play critical roles in various industries including aerospace, automotive, construction, and materials science, enabling engineers and researchers to accurately assess the mechanical properties of materials for design, quality control, and research purposes.
</p>
<h2 id="components">Components</h2>
<p>Several variations are in use.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>  Common components include:
</p>
<ul><li>Load frame - Usually consisting of two strong supports for the machine.  Some small machines have a single support.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Load_cell/m0j0TUlw">Load cell</a> - A <a href="/facts/Force/533Q1uzq">force</a> <a href="/facts/Transducer/YS7zfv9d">transducer</a> or other means of measuring the load is required.  Periodic <a href="/facts/Calibration/xkqmdeVl">calibration</a> is usually required by governing regulations or quality system.</li>
<li>Cross head - A movable cross head (crosshead) is controlled to move up or down.  Usually this is at a constant speed: sometimes called a <i>constant rate of extension</i> (CRE) machine.  Some machines can program the crosshead speed or conduct cyclical testing, testing at constant force, testing at constant deformation, etc. Electromechanical, servo-hydraulic, linear drive, and resonance drive are used.</li>
<li>Means of measuring extension or  deformation - Many tests require a measure of the response of the test <a href="/facts/Biological_specimen/u51y6uvM">specimen</a> to the movement of the cross head.  <a href="/facts/Extensometer/KxgLtmMk">Extensometers</a> are sometimes used.</li>
<li>Control Panel and Software Device - Providing the test result with parameters set by the user for data acquisition and analysis.  Some older machines have dial or digital displays and  <a href="/facts/Chart_recorder/slzYbjJD">chart recorders</a>.  Many newer machines have a computer interface for analysis and printing.</li>
<li>Conditioning - Many tests require controlled conditioning (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.).  The machine can be in a controlled room or a special <a href="/facts/Environmental_chamber/qYuwXQDf">environmental chamber</a> can be placed around the test specimen for the test.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Test_fixture/cK6KfUVn">Test fixtures</a>, specimen holding jaws, and related sample making equipment are called for in many <a href="/facts/Test_method/sGtHudUV">test methods</a>.</li></ul>
<h2 id="use">Use</h2>

<p>The set-up and usage are detailed in a <a href="/facts/Test_method/sGtHudUV">test method</a>, often published by a <a href="/facts/Standards_organization/8o7wGeYg">standards organization</a>.  This specifies the sample preparation, fixturing, gauge length (the length which is under study or observation), analysis,  etc.
</p><p>The specimen is placed in the machine between the grips and an extensometer if required can automatically record the change in gauge length during the test. If an extensometer is not fitted, the machine itself can record the d
e systems including any slipping of the specimen in the grips.
</p><p>Once the machine is started it begins to apply an increasing load on specimen. Throughout the tests the control system and its associated software record the load and extension or compression of the specimen.
</p><p>Machines range from very small table top systems  to ones with over 53 MN (12 million <a href="/facts/Lbf/w62gn6Y0">lbf</a>) capacity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Modulus_of_elasticity/Et73KjbT">Modulus of elasticity</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Stress-strain_curve/zlDgdlMb">Stress-strain curve</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Young%27s_modulus/MV5JMCIM">Young's modulus</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Necking_(engineering)/wwG8GIav">Necking (engineering)</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Fatigue_testing/39wzNhG1">Fatigue testing</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Hydraulic_press/kcAdYTED">Hydraulic press</a></li></ul>

<ul><li>ASTM E74 - Practice for Calibration of Force Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines</li>
<li>ASTM E83 - Practice for Verification and Classification on Extensometer Systems</li>
<li>ASTM E1012 - Practice for Verification of Test Frame and Specimen Alignment Under Tensile and Compressive Axial Force Application</li>
<li>ASTM E1856 - Standard Guide for Evaluating Computerized Data Acquisition Systems Used to Acquire Data from Universal Testing Machines</li>
<li>JIS K7171   - Standard for determine the flextural strength for plastic material & products</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8U4G5kcpcM">Video of a universal testing machine performing a tensile test</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Davis, Joseph R. (2004), Tensile testing (2nd ed.), ASM International, p. 2, ISBN 978-0-87170-806-9. <a href="978-0-87170-806-9" target="_blank">978-0-87170-806-9</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Annappa, C H (July 2012), "APPLICATION OF VALUE ENGINEERING FOR COST REDUCTION – A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE", International Journal of Advances in Engineering & Technology, 4 (1): 618–629, retrieved 1 December 2017 <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283008884" target="_blank">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283008884</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>NIST, Large Scale Structure Testing Facility, archived from the original on 5 June 2010, retrieved 4 May 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100605214812/http://www.nist.gov/bfrl/facilities_instruments/large_scale_struct_testing_fac.cfm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100605214812/http://www.nist.gov/bfrl/facilities_instruments/large_scale_struct_testing_fac.cfm</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Kirstein (1971). Universal Testing Machine of 12-Million-lbf Capacity, NBS Pub 355 (PDF) (Report). NIST. Retrieved 22 May 2017. <a href="http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nbsspecialpublication355.pdf" target="_blank">http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nbsspecialpublication355.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Universal testing machine open-in-new

Universal testing machine