Compressive Testing of Ductile High-Strength Alloys

Abstract

Abstract Compression testing of metal alloys is a basic procedure in material characterization and analysis. Though it follows many of the guidelines and physical considerations as tensile testing, in some respects compression testing implies more complexity, more difficulties, and, consequently, more possible causes for inaccuracy compared to tensile testing. Hence, compressive testing is applied much less than the standard tensile tests, unless the load case is requiring specific test data from compression, e.g., when brittle or cast alloys are applied. Ductile metals compressed to high strains require further consideration when the yield strength in compression, the compressive strength, or even the full flow curve for plasticity must be identified. A sophisticated test procedure for compression testing of ductile metals in the plasticity range has been developed and is presented. It allows the determination of elastic modulus, yield strength, and flow curve up to high strains. The procedure was evaluated with comparative tensile tests on identical specimens and with a round-robin test with a testing-machine manufacturer. Further considerations for compression testing and for the strain measurement are presented.