Instrument And Equipment Wholesale

Bending testing, or flexural testing, measures a material’s behavior under flexural stress. It determines properties like flexural strength, flexural modulus, and strain by applying force to bend a sample supported at two points, causing deformation or failure.

A bending testing machine, often a Universal Testing Machine with bending fixtures, works by applying a controlled downward force via a loading nose (indenter) onto a test specimen supported by two points. It measures the applied load and the resulting deflection of the sample as it bends, capturing data like a load-deflection curve.

Bend tests are governed by various international standards depending on the material (metals, plastics, composites, ceramics) and test method (e.g., 3-point or 4-point bending). Common organizations issuing standards include ASTM (e.g., ASTM D790 for plastics, ASTM E290 for metals), ISO, JIS, and others, which specify procedures, fixtures, and sample dimensions.

Safety rules for bending machines include keeping hands and body parts clear of potential pinch points and moving parts, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety glasses (especially for brittle materials that might fracture), ensuring the test fixture and sample are properly secured, and knowing the location of the emergency stop button.

A bend test works by placing a prepared sample onto two support points within the testing machine’s fixture. A third point, the loading nose, then descends from above, applying force at a controlled speed, typically midway between the supports. The machine records the load applied and the distance the sample deflects until it reaches a specified limit or fails.