Applications
Starrett Knows Force Analysis and Measurement
Tensile testing
Shear testing
Peel testing
Compressive testing
Identifying tensile force characteristics such as peak load is critical in validating a product's safety and application. Whether its consumer products, medical products, packaging materials or fasteners used in the building trades, tensile testing is a fundamental measurement available on all Lx systems.
Shear tests help measure the deformable mechanical properties of cosmetics, plastics, composites, fluids and other samples. Lap shear testing can be used to measure mechanical weld strength or the adhesive strength of epoxies.
Adhesive strength properties are measured to understand the bonding capabilities of coatings and glues on various types of materials- from paper to substrates to building materials. Both 90° and 180° testing can be performed to measure the peak holding strengths under standard test methods such as ASTM F88.
Compressive loads are important in evaluating packaging designs, such as top load testing. Core sampling of concrete-based products are measured to determine their strength. And springs are analysed under load to determine spring rate based on free length.
Flexural testing
Coefficient of friction testing
Break, Fracture and Rupture testing Load rate testing
Flexural strength and material stiffness represent the combined effects of a sample's basic tensile, compressive and shear characteristics. Composites, wood and paper products can be tested in both 3- and 4-point methods to determine their stiffness and resilience.
ASTM D1894 is a common test method for measuring coefficient of friction. Materials such as plastic sheeting can be tested to measure both the static and kinetic frictional characteristics. Other materials, such as flooring products are tested to determine their slip resistance and safety under various environmental conditions.
Destructive testing can involve tensile, compressive, shear and other test methods where the product is tested to failure. Often this testing is used to determine the "peak" measurements that occur prior to the break event. Lx systems allow you to measure precisely based on stress, strain, load, displacement and time.
Load rate testing is a more complex testing method compared to testing to a setpoint at a specific velocity. Load rate testing can be used on consumer products, such as children's attire, to measure the pull strength of buttons and their resistance to breaking loads. Here the button is pulled at a rate (lbf/minute) rather than a time velocity (in/min).
Contact closure testing
Insertion/Extraction testing
Creep and Relaxation testing
Using the optional Automation Builder, the "make and break" load for an electrical switch can be measured precisely. Load is applied to the switch and the peak load is measured when the switch closes/ opens. This type of application can be tested on keypads, membranes and other materials that utilise a resistance change.
Insertion/extraction testing is performed on electronic components like jacks, medical devices, consumer products, and more. The loads are measured in both directions- tensile and compressive to determine the sample's characterization for the application and for product life- cycle determination.
Foam is a material where its deformation while under an applied load below its yield strength is measured and analysed. Knowing the material's ability to maintain its specified deformation is important for comfort and longevity in its intended application.
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