within the verified force application range of the testing
machine as defined in Practices E4. Where verification of the
testing machine speed is required, Practices E2658 shall be
used unless otherwise specified.
5.2 Gripping Devices:
5.2.1 General—Various types of gripping devices may be
used to transmit the measured force applied by the testing
machine to the test specimens. To ensure axial tensile stress
within the gauge length, the axis of the test specimen should
coincide with the center line of the heads of the testing
machine. Any departure from this requirement may introduce
bending stresses that are not included in the usual stress
computation (force divided by cross-sectional area).
NOTE 1—The effect of this eccentric force application may be illus-
trated by calculating the bending moment and stress thus added. For a
standard 12.5 mm [0.500 in.] diameter specimen, the stress increase is 1.5
percentage points for each 0.025 mm [0.001 in.] of eccentricity. This error
increases to 2.5 percentage points/ 0.025 mm [0.001 in.] for a 9 mm
[0.350 in.] diameter specimen and to 3.2 percentage points/ 0.025 mm
[0.001 in.] for a 6 mm [0.250 in.] diameter specimen.
NOTE 2—Alignment methods are given in Practice E1012.
5.2.2 Wedge Grips—Testing machines usually are equipped
with wedge grips. These wedge grips generally furnish a
satisfactory means of gripping long specimens of ductile metal
and flat plate test specimens such as those shown in Fig. 1. If,
however, for any reason, one grip of a pair advances farther
than the other as the grips tighten, an undesirable bending
stress may be introduced. When liners are used behind the
wedges, they must be of the same thickness and their faces
must be flat and parallel. For best results, the wedges should be
supported over their entire lengths by the heads of the testing
machine. This requires that liners of several thicknesses be
available to cover the range of specimen thickness. For proper
gripping, it is desirable that the entire length of the serrated
face of each wedge be in contact with the specimen. Proper
alignment of wedge grips and liners is illustrated in Fig. 2. For
short specimens and for specimens of many materials it is
generally necessary to use machined test specimens and to use
a special means of gripping to ensure that the specimens, when
under load, shall be as nearly as possible in uniformly
distributed pure axial tension (see 5.2.3,5.2.4, and 5.2.5).
5.2.3 Grips for Threaded and Shouldered Specimens and
Brittle Materials—A schematic diagram of a gripping device
for threaded-end specimens is shown in Fig. 3, while Fig. 4
shows a device for gripping specimens with shouldered ends.
Both of these gripping devices should be attached to the heads
of the testing machine through properly lubricated spherical-
seated bearings. The distance between spherical bearings
should be as great as feasible.
5.2.4 Grips for Sheet Materials—The self-adjusting grips
shown in Fig. 5 have proven satisfactory for testing sheet
materials that cannot be tested satisfactorily in the usual type of
wedge grips.
5.2.5 Grips for Wire—Grips of either the wedge or snubbing
types as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 or flat wedge grips may be
used.
5.3 Dimension-Measuring Devices—Micrometers and other
devices used for measuring linear dimensions shall be accurate
and precise to at least one half the smallest unit to which the
individual dimension is required to be measured.
5.4 Extensometers—Extensometers used in tension testing
shall conform to the requirements of Practice E83 for the
classifications specified by the procedure section of this test
method. Extensometers shall be used and verified to include
the strains corresponding to the yield strength and elongation at
fracture (if determined).
5.4.1 Extensometers with gauge lengths equal to or shorter
than the nominal gauge length of the specimen (dimension
shown as “G-Gauge Length” in the accompanying figures) may
be used to determine the yield behavior. For specimens without
a reduced section (for example, full cross sectional area
specimens of wire, rod, or bar), the extensometer gauge length
for the determination of yield behavior shall not exceed 80 %
of the distance between grips. For measuring elongation at
fracture with an appropriate extensometer, the gauge length of
the extensometer shall be equal to the nominal gauge length
required for the specimen being tested.
6. Test Specimens
6.1 General:
6.1.1 Specimen Size—Test specimens shall be either sub-
stantially full size or machined, as prescribed in the product
specifications for the material being tested.
6.1.2 Location—Unless otherwise specified, the axis of the
test specimen shall be located within the parent material as
follows:
6.1.2.1 At the center for products 40 mm [1.500 in.] or less
in thickness, diameter, or distance between flats.
6.1.2.2 Midway from the center to the surface for products
over 40 mm [1.500 in.] in thickness, diameter, or distance
between flats.
6.1.3 Specimen Machining—Improperly prepared test speci-
mens often are the reason for unsatisfactory and incorrect test
results. It is important, therefore, that care be exercised in the
preparation of specimens, particularly in the machining, to
maximize precision and minimize bias in test results.
6.1.3.1 The reduced section including the fillets of prepared
specimens should be free of cold work, notches, chatter marks,
grooves, gouges, burrs, rough surfaces or edges, overheating,
or any other condition which can deleteriously affect the
properties to be measured.
NOTE 3—Punching or blanking of the reduced section may produce
significant cold work or shear burrs, or both, along the edges which should
be removed by machining.
6.1.3.2 Within the reduced parallel section of rectangular
specimens, edges or corners should not be ground or abraded in
a manner which could cause the actual cross-sectional area of
the specimen to be significantly different from the calculated
area.
6.1.3.3 For brittle materials, large radius fillets at the ends of
the reduced parallel section should be used.
6.1.3.4 The cross-sectional area of the specimen should be
smallest at the center of the reduced parallel section to ensure
fracture within the gauge length. For this reason, a small taper
is permitted in the reduced parallel section of each of the
specimens described in the following sections.
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