Practical applications for tensile testing
Tensile testers are used to measure the strength of products and components or the properties of materials.
Tensile testing is commonly carried out on objects like textile attachments, welded connectors and fastenings, adhesive joints and seals.
The packaging industry for example use automated tensile testers to measure the force needed to open flip-cap containers, pull-out stoppers etc.
The application areas are almost limitless across all industries!
Many applications have complementary compressive tests (eg push and pull to check opening and closing characteristics).
Where both tension and compression measurement of a product is required, then a tensile tester or universal testing machine (UTM) fulfils both these requirements.
Since the shapes and features of manufactured products are so variable, and can be awkward to grip without deformation, Mecmesin regularly design and develop custom fixtures for individual products.
Materials testing goes further and usually requires measuring the full tensile properties of a material such as its elastic modulus, rather than just the ultimate tensile strength.
Materials testing standards will often call for the measurement of stress/strain and typically define the specimen dimensions and recommended grips to be used.

Common industry applications for tensile testing

Aerospace
Pull strength of crimped and ultrasonically-welded wire terminals
Tensile strength of composite materials
Operational effort of aircraft seats, head- and arm-rests, tray-tables
Bearing fitting strength for rotor assemblies
Adhesive pull and peel strength testing of composite parts

Automotive
Quality assessment through tensile testing of...
Interior fittings:
- airbags
- dashboard controls
- electrical wiring harnesses
- handles and levers
- laminated trim
- seals
- seatbelts and mechanisms
Exterior fittings:
- bumper moulding and trim
- door and window seals
- emblems and number plates
- mirrors
- fuel and mud flaps
- damper springs

Electrical and electronics
Connector insertion & withdrawal force
Pull-off forces of crimped, welded or soldered electrical contacts
Shear and pull-off strength of PCB components
Peel strength of laminated PCB tracks
Case study: Tensile tester for PCB copper track 90 degree peel (IPC-TM-650)

Safety, fitness and leisure
Tensile testing of safety support netting
Muscle strength rehabilitation testing
Elastic properties of racquet strings
Synthetic sports surface tuft pull-strength
Case study: Tensile tester for construction safety netting certification (BS EN 1263-1)

Medical and medical devices
Hypodermic needle-to-hub retention force
Tensile strength of medical tubing, bandages and tapes
Joint strength of IV connector fittings
Tensile strength of suture material and knotting
Elongation and tensile strength of surgical gloves
Mechanical strength of orthopaedic implant components
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Packaging and packing materials
Opening force of snap-caps and ring-pull closures
Adhesive peel strength of tapes
Elongation of plastic packaging materials
Friction and tensile strength of flexible plastic film
Weld and seam strength of plastic tubes

Pharmaceutical products and packaging
Pull off force of phial and capsule caps
Delamination peel strength of transdermal patches
Seal and peel integrity of sterile packaging
Strength testing drug-delivery devices
Blister pack tear strength

Plastics, rubbers and elastomers
Joint strength of interlocking plastic components
Weld and seam strength of plastic tubes
Yield strength of rubber and plastics
Tensile strength of rubber gaskets
Peel testing laminated plastic ID cards
Case study: Tensile tester for rubber gaskets and polymer materials

Textiles
Pull-off characteristics of attachments (buttons, stitched-on decorations, press-studs)
Operational force testing of zips, hook-and-loop fasteners
'Grab test' strength testing of stitched seams
Tensile strength of synthetic filaments
Automotive textile strength test (airbags, seat fabrics)

Paper and board
Openability of card and paper based packaging
Fold strength characteristics of boxes and cartons
Tear force to separate perforated multi-part documents
Tensile strength of paper and card

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