Tensile Machine Operating Procedure

This article is about tensile test procedure pdf, how to use tensile testing machine and principle of tensile test.

Equipment Description:

This piece of equipment works using a hydraulic system and applies a load to pull a sample until failure. Users must be properly trained on this piece of equipment before use.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Before using the Tensile Tester, ensure that you will at least meet the following protective requirements:

1. Safety Glasses
2. Closed-toe shoes with socks
3. Long pants (no shorts!)
4. Lab coat (optional)

Although not required, having a second person working with you would be better if an injury was to occur. Before proceeding you must have read and are familiar with the safe operations of this Tensile Tester.

Tensile Test Procedure

1. Before starting, make sure you are wearing all Personal Protective Equipment.
2. Log on to the computer, if locked, using the following password: aramco.1

3. Click on the “Bluehill 3” shortcut found on the desktop ().
4. Wait for the program to load then switch on the hydraulic motor (green button) from the control panel (see Fig. 1-H).
5. Move the upper crosshead using the “JOG UP” button on the control panel (see Fig. 1-E) until the “Extension” reading on the program screen is between 5.000 mm and 10.000 mm.
6. Wait 15 minutes for the machine to warm-up.
7. Click on “Test” on the program Home screen.
8. Select the Test Method you need from the available list:
   • a. ASTM A370 Flat Sample
   • b. ASTM A370 Round Sample
   • c. API 5L Flat Sample
   • d. API 5L Round Sample
   • e. ASTM A370 Flat Sample without Extensometer
   • f. ASTM A370 Round Sample without Extensometer
   • g. API 5L Flat Sample without Extensometer
   • h. API 5L Round Sample without Extensometer.
9. Insert the sample name on the given field then click “Next.”
10. Take initial specimen measurements; Gauge length, width, and thickness for a flat sample or diameter for a round sample.
11. Enter the test information and specimen measurements into the appropriate fields then click “Next.”
12. Move the lower crosshead up or down (see Fig. 1-F, Fig. 1-G) to create appropriate space between the two crossheads to install the specimen.
13. Install the specimen into the upper grip only (make sure it is strait).
14. Click on “SPECIMEN PROTECT” on the control panel (see Fig. 1-A) then close the lower grip immediately.
15. Wait until the “Load” reading on the program screen stabilizes.
16. Install the extensometer on the specimen, make sure it fits properly (see Fig. 2).
17. Click on the “Reset gauge length” button on the program screen (see Fig. 3-J).
18. Start the test by pressing the “START TEST” button on the control panel (see Fig. 1-B) or click the “Start” button on the program screen (see Fig. 3-K).
19. Upon reaching the yield point, the computer will ask you to remove the extensometer. Remove the extensometer then click “Enter” on the keyboard.
20. Wait until final rupture occurs.
    Note: The program will stop capturing data at this point, if not, then press the “STOP TEST” button on the control panel (see Fig. 1-C) or click the “Stop” button on the program screen (see Fig. 3-L).
21. Remove the broken specimen by first releasing the upper grip followed by the lower grip.
22. Bring the crosshead back to gauge length by pressing the “RETURN” button on the control panel (see Fig. 1-D) or by clicking the “Return” button in the program screen (see Fig. 3-M).
23. Take final specimen measurements; Gauge length, width, and thickness for a flat sample or diameter for a round sample.
24. Enter the final measurements on the appropriate fields then click “Next.”
25. Click on “Finish” then “Finish Sample” on the program screen.
26. A dialog appears asking to start a new sample. Click “No.”
27. Go to the computer desktop and click on the “Instron Test Results” shortcut ().
28. Open the “pdf” file with your sample name to show your test results.
29. Print the results.
30. Turn off the tensile machine if you are done testing by closing the program window.

Note: If you need to stop the test before it completes, press the “STOP TEST” button on the control panel (see Fig. 1-C) or click the “Stop” button in the program screen (see Fig. 3-L).

Caution:

If during the test a condition develops that could affect the safety of an operator or could damage the specimen or test equipment, press the “Emergency Stop” button on the control panel (see Fig. 1-I).
Do not release the grips after using the “Emergency Stop” button.
The specimen may be under load after an emergency stop. The high energies involved can cause the broken parts to be projected forcefully from the test area upon releasing the grips. First, investigate and resolve the situation that caused the use of the “Emergency Stop” button, reset the system and then move the crosshead to relieve any
load on the specimen. Only then should the grips be released.

Modifying an Existing Test Results

Follow this procedure if you need to either modify an existing test results or apply a different test method to an existing sample:

1. Click on the “Bluehill 3” shortcut found on the desktop ().
2. Click on “Analysis” on the program Home screen.
3. Click “Browse”… A standard Open File dialog box displays.
4. Select the results you need to modify and click “Open.”
5. Select the Test Method you want to apply to the sample.
   Note: Before modifying, click on the results to highlight the results table. Otherwise, any
   modification to the specimen measurements will not take effect.
6. Enter the correct specimen measurement values (length, width, and thickness for a flat sample or diameter for a round sample) in the “Operator inputs” area.
7. If you need to change the unit of a particular result, right-click on that result and select “Column properties” from the context menu.
8. Select the desired unit from the dialog window then click “Close.”
9. Click “Save As”… a dialog window displays.
10. Provide the name that you want to save the results with then click “Enter” on the keyboard.
11. Click “Finish” from the program screen.
12. Go to the computer desktop and click on the “Instron Test Results” shortcut ().
13. Open the “pdf” file with your new sample name to show your modified test results.
14. Print the results.