This document discusses material testing methods for construction materials. It describes both destructive and non-destructive testing methods. Destructive methods like tensile, compression, and hardness tests are used to determine properties like strength and flexibility. Non-destructive methods like ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and dye penetrant tests can find internal and surface flaws without damaging the material. Proper material testing is important to ensure construction materials can withstand forces and provide long-lasting, safe structures.

1. UNIT 6
Material Testing, Machines And
Equipment Requirements

2. Material testing
•The raw materials such as cement, steel, concrete,
asphalt, aggregates, rocks etc are used to construct a
building, road, bridges, pavement etc.
•These are subjected to various kinds of forces
like tensile, compression, shear etc. to determine
their quality, in order to check if they can withstand
the forces which are expected after the construction
of these structures.
•To determine such magnitude various tests are
performed both in the laboratory as well as in the
field such testing is known as Building Material
Testing.

3. The raw materials are tested for:
• Durability
• Intensity
• Integrity
• Engineering Systems
• Construction Products
• Quality
These tests are required so that the materials
that are used for construction to avoid any risk
in the future.

4. Importance of Building Material Testing
1) The testing also helps the operators in recognizing
whether the product or material they are using is
suitable and adequate for construction or not.
2) The testing helps in making measurable decisions to
provide valued construction that serves for a very
long time.
3) The testing also helps in providing overall safety
construction which is very necessary to assure the
humans who would be residing there later.
4) Building material testing helps in improving the
overall performance and quality of the construction
and leads to preferred results that are desired by the
operators.

5. Destructive Testing
• It is a form of object analysis that involves applying a
test to break down a particular material to determine
its physical properties, such as toughness, strength,
flexibility, and hardness
• Static Testing – Tension Test, Compression Test,
Shear Test, Hardness Test, Creep Test
• Impact (Dynamic) Testing – Charpy Test, Izoid Test
• Cyclic Testing

6. Non Destructive Testing
• Includes testing & analysis to evaluate the properties
of the material, component, structure without
causing damage to the original part.
• Visual Inspection & Evaluation
• Penetrate Test
• Magnetic Detection
• Ultrasonic Test
• Radiography Test

8. Destructive Testing
TENSILE TEST :
• A tensile test, also known as tension test, is probably
the most fundamental type of mechanical test is
performed on a material.
• Tensile tests are simple, relatively inexpensive, and
fully standardized.
• By pulling on something, you will very quickly
determine how the material will react to forces being
applied in tension.
• As the material is being pulled, you will find its
strength along with how much it will elongate.

9. TENSILE TEST :

10. Destructive Testing
COMPRESSION TEST :
• Method for determining behavior of materials under
crushing loads. Specimen is compressed, and
deformation at various loads is recorded.
• Compressive stress and strain are calculated and
plotted as a stress-strain diagram which is used to
determine elastic limit, proportional limit, yield
point, yield strength and (for some materials)
compressive strength.
• Standard compression tests are given in ASTM C-773
(high strength ceramics), ASTM E-9 (metals), ASTM E-
209 (metals at elevated temperatures) and ASTM D-
695 (plastics).

11. COMPRESSION TEST :

12. Destructive Testing
HARDNESS TEST:
• Hardness is the resistance of a material to
permanent indentation.
• It is important to recognize that hardness test is an
empirical test and therefore hardness is not a
material property.
• This is because there are several different hardness
tests that will each determine a different hardness
value for the same piece of material.
• Therefore, hardness depends on the test method
and every test result has a label identifying the test
method used.

13. HARDNESS TEST:

14. Destructive Testing
CHARPY IMPACT TEST :
• The Charpy impact test, also known as the Charpy V-
notch test, is a standardized high strain-rate test
which determines the amount of energy absorbed by
a material during fracture.
• This absorbed energy is a measure of a given
material's notch toughness and acts as a tool to
study temperature-dependent ductile-brittle
transition.
• It is widely applied in industry, since it is easy to
prepare and conduct and results can be obtained
quickly and cheaply.

15. CHARPY IMPACT TEST :

16. Non Destructive Testing
POLARISCOPE TEST:
• It is a nondestructive test used to determine stress
concentration in transparent materials by studying
fringe pattern.
• Birefringence is a property where a ray of light
passing through a birefringent material experiences
two refractive indices.
• Information such as maximum shear stress and its
orientation are available by analyzing the
birefringence with an instrument called polariscope.

17. Non Destructive Testing
• When a ray of light passes through a photo elastic
material, its electromagnetic wave components gets
resolved along the two principal stress directions and
each of these components experiences different
refractive indices due to the birefringence.
• The difference in the refractive indices leads to a
relative phase retardation between the two
components

18. Non Destructive Testing
RADIOGRAPHY (X-RAY TEST):
• X Rays can be used for detection of internal flaws and
faults in most engineering materials.
• X ray testing is expensive due to the costly
equipment, film and processing required.
• There is also the need for the implementation of
specialized safety equipment and procedures.
• X ray or Gamma radiation is passed through the test
specimen and then recorded upon a photosensitive
film.

19. RADIOGRAPHY (X-RAY TEST):

20. Non Destructive Testing
• The flaws or defects are indicated as dark areas on
the film because faults absorb less radiation than the
material itself.
• Complex shapes require examination from two
different angles.
1. Due to its expense X ray detection is generally used
during product development, or in laboratory
testing.
2. Gamma radiation is suited to field or on site
applications as less complex equipment is used.

21. Non Destructive Testing
MAGNETIC PARTICLE INSPECTION TEST:
• Magnetic particle tests are suitable only for ferrous
metals capable of being magnetized.
• Almost any size or shaped component can be tested.
The test specimen is first thoroughly cleaned and
dried before the test.
• When magnetized ferromagnetic specimens have a
distorted magnetic field in the region of the fault or
defect.
• This distortion can be seen with the application of
magnetic particles as a powder or suspended in a
liquid.

22. Non Destructive Testing
• These particles are often coated in a fluorescent
material enabling inspection under ultraviolet light.
• The flaw can be seen as a disturbance in the flow
lines. Faults perpendicular to induced field are easily
detected, whereas faults parallel to the induced field
may be misinterpreted.

23. Non Destructive Testing
DYE PENETRANT TEST:
• The test specimen is first thoroughly cleaned and
dried before the test.
• A liquid penetrant is applied to the surface; spraying,
dipping or brushing may do this.
• Over a period of time the liquid penetrant is drawn
into any surface faults by capillary action, any excess
liquid is removed.
• Faults open to the surface will appear as a discolored
line in the whiting.

24. DYE PENETRANT TEST:

25. Non Destructive Testing
• Fluorescent or coloured dyes drawn into the faults
are readily seen under ultraviolet light or as a line in
the developer.
• Liquid penetrant tests are simple, versatile, portable
and inexpensive.
• The results are easy to interpret but only surface
faults can be detected.

26. Non Destructive Testing
FLUORESCENT TEST:
• Is a nondestructive testing method for detecting
discontinuities (cracks, seams, laps, cold shuts,
laminations, and porosity) that are open to the
surface.
• It is a type of dye penetrant inspection in which a
fluorescent dye is applied to the surface of a non-
porous material in order to detect defects that may
compromise the integrity or quality of the part in
question.
• Noted for its low cost and simple process, FPI is used
widely in a variety of industries.

27. Non Destructive Testing
• The following are the main steps in a Fluorescent
Penetrant Inspection Process:
1. Initial Cleaning:
2. Penetrant Application:
3. Excess Penetrant Removal:
4. Developer Application:
5. Inspection:
6. Final Cleaning

28. Non Destructive Testing
ULTRASONIC TEST:
• Ultrasonic testing offers immediate results and a high
degree of accuracy for cracks and internal faults such
as gas porosity.
• The test is suitable for metals, plastics, glass,
concrete and ceramics.
• Components that are thin, small, have complex
shapes or have rough surfaces are difficult to test.
• Ultrasonic testing involves sending high frequency
vibrations (100 kHz to 200 kHz) through a material
and sensing their reflections.

29. ULTRASONIC TEST:

30. Non Destructive Testing
• The high frequency vibrations are produced by a
transducer.
• The transducer is placed on the surface of the
material to be tested.
• Vibrations penetrate the material and are refracted
and reflected at discontinuities within the material.
• Another transducer picks up the reflected signal
which is displayed on an oscilloscope.
• The resulting reflection indicates the internal
integrity of the test specimen.
• Flaws are shown as a peak, the size of the peak
indicates the size of the fault.

31. Types of testing machines
1. Compression Testing Machines
• Compression testing is fundamental to determining
strength characteristics of materials.
• Compression testing machines are commonly used for
high-strength concrete cylinder testing.
•Also used for test cubes, beams, blocks, prisms and
bulk fines of many other materials.
•Compression testing machines can be used in the lab
and the field and are available in a variety of frames
with a range of load capacities.

32. • In addition to compressive strength, you can also run
tests for Modulus of Elasticity/Poisson’s Ratio, and
Tensile Splitting.
• Standard compression machines are versatile, durable
and dependable for conventional testing
environments.
• In more demanding testing environments, high
stiffness or high-capacity machines may be necessary.
• These are designed for larger specimens and/or high
strength materials, with rigid welded steel frames.
Load capacities can exceed 1Mlbf.

34. 2. Universal Testing Machines
• Universal testing machines are just that: universal,
multi-purpose testers.
• You can measure and control via a variety of axes and
vector types—force, pressure, stress, strain and low-
range force, in compression, tension or bending.
• From cylinders and cubes to bolts and wire, test a
wide array of specimens and materials (cementitious,
non-cementitious, metallic, non-metallic), measuring
force, displacement, velocity and strain.
• Test according to desired methods in capacities of
20,000 – 850,000lbf.

36. 3. Flexural Testing Machines
• Flexural testing machines are versatile and ideal for
testing concrete as used in highways and airport
runways.
• Just like compression machines, you can use these in
the field or the lab.
• In fact, some manufacturers can provide a flexural
frame that you can attach to a compression machine—
an economical solution that covers several needs at
once.
• With a flexural testing machine, you can test for beam
flexure or strength in materials with failure below
30,000lbf., like grout, pavers and cubes.

37. • In addition to flexure and strength, these testing
machines are capable of testing for Modulus of
Elasticity/Poisson’s Ratio, Proppant Crush Resistance
and Tensile Splitting.

38. 4. Hardness Testing Machines
•Hardness is a characteristic of a material, not a
fundamental physical property.
•It is defined as the resistance to indentation, and it is
determined by measuring the permanent depth of the
indentation.
•Hardness Testing Considerations
The following sample characteristics should be consider to
selecting the hardness testing method to use:
• Material
• Sample Size
• Thickness
• Scale
• Shape of sample, round, cylindrical, flat, irregular

39. 1) Brinell Hardness Testers
• These machines are designed to measure hardness
of castings, other metals and alloys of all kinds, hard
or soft, whether flat, round or irregular in shape.
2) Vickers Hardness Testers
• These testers are suitable for measuring the
hardness of precision metallic parts with wide testing
range from soft to hard and their accurate results are
widely acclaimed.
• Thin sheet metal is perfectly tested because the load
applied is very small.
• Built - in projection screen to get accurate results.

40. 3)Rockwell Hardness Testers
• These testers are simple in design and easy to
operate, yet sensitive & accurate.
• Various models from the wide range are suitable for
schools, laboratories, tool-rooms, inspection, heat
treatment departments, factories etc.

41. 5. Loading frames:
• Load frames are used for applying vertical force in
triaxial and many other laboratory tests where
vertical load has to be applied.
• Load frames testing utilizes a high stiffness support
structure against which the test forces can react.
• The load frame comprises a base beam, two
columns, and a moving crosshead that when fitted
with fixtures is capable of measuring different
mechanical properties related to strength and
displacement.

42. Load frames are required to run these common tests
for geotechnical and asphalt applications:
• Unconfined compressive strength of soils
• Unconfined compressive strength of soil-cement
• Marshall Stability and Flow of Asphalt
• Asphalt Semi-Circular Bend Test
• Indirect Tensile Strength of Asphalt
• Tack Bond (Interlayer Shear Strength of Asphalt)

43. What to Consider When Selecting a Load Frame:
• The total capacity of the frame should be well
beyond the highest loads likely to be tested.
• Strain rate (platen speed) must meet the
requirements and tolerances for desired testing
applications.
• Daylight opening is the maximum space between the
two vertical rods and from the top of the lower
platen to the bottom of the horizontal crosshead.
• The bottom platen supports the specimen
• The horizontal crosshead bears all the forces applied
by the drive system to the test specimen.
• Well-designed components can often be easily
installed on different brands of load frames.

44. 6.Fracture Test:
• Fracture toughness tests measure a material’s ability
to resist the growth or propagation of a pre-existing
flaw.
• The flaw or defect may be in the form of a fatigue
crack, void, or any other inconsistency in the test
material.
• It can also be used in conjunction with fatigue
testing, corrosion testing, and elevated
temperatures to determine the useful life of the
material under different conditions.
• These materials include metals, plastics, ceramics
and composites among others as well as many other
rigid substrates that may contain defects.

45. 7.Force and displacement Test:
• Load Control
• Loads are applied to a composite part using a force.
• This force can take different forms such as
concentrated forces, pressure, and stress.
• The idea to focus on for a load controlled analysis is
that the load changes incrementally while the
displacement results depend on the stiffness of the
structure.

46. • Displacement Control
• Loads are applied to a composite part using
a displacement.
• This displacement can take different forms such as
displacements and strains.
• Opposite from a load controlled analysis, in a
displacement controlled analysis, the displacement
changes incrementally while the reaction force
results depend on the stiffness of the structure.