Bend Testing

What is it?
Long beam has an applied load
perpendicular to its main (longitudinal)
axis.
What is it?
Often accompanied with two or more
point supports.
What is it?
Measures flexural strength, σ
◦ Remember that strength and “stress”
here are used interchangeably

Also used for testing welds

Bend Test
Bend tests, not to be confused with
drop tests.
Gradual application of load instead of
instant shock.
Bend!
Three kinds of bend tests discussed
today

◦ Wrap-Around Bend Test (Simple)

◦ 3 – Point Bend Test

◦ 4 – Point Bend Test

Wrap-Around Guided Bend Test
A specimen of thickness, T, is bent
using a hand tool similar to a
plumber’s pipe bender.
Wrap-Around Guided Bend Test
A specimen of thickness, T, is bent
using a hand tool similar to a
plumber’s pipe bender.
Wrap-Around Guided Bend Test
Welds are often tested using this
method.
3 – Point Bend Test
 Like a compression test, but with
three points
3 – Point Bend Test
3 – Point Bend Test
Insert Video
3 – Point Bend Test
Measuring Stress

d
L
3 – Point Bend Test
Measuring Stress

 F = Load (N)
 L = Length between supports (mm)
 b = width (mm)
 d = thickness (mm)
Application
Testingstructural components like
Glulams
◦ Layers of timber glued together, often
used in structures
Application
Glulam
Application
Glulam
Application
Glulam
Application
Glulam Testing
Application
Why?
◦ Characterize limits

What was different about the test in

the video?
4 – Point Bend Test
4 – Point Bend Test
Measuring Stress

F/2 F/2

d
L
4 – Point Bend Test
Measuring Stress

Loading Span
F/2 F/2

d
L
4 – Point Bend Test
Measuring Stress
◦ IF Loading Span is 1/3 of support span:

◦ IF Loading Span is 1/2 of support span:

Bend Tests
What’s the difference?
Type of Bend
3-Point 4-Point
Test

Type of Material Homogeneous (plastics) Non-Homogeneous

(composites & wood)

Small and concentrated

Stress under the center loading Larger region to avoid
Concentration premature failure
point

Specimen Typically measured with Typically measured with

Deflection the crosshead position a deflectometer
Bend Tests
Deflectometer is to transverse loading
(bend testing)

Extensometer is to longitudinal
loading (tensile testing)
Internal Behavior
Beam experiences both compression
AND tension during bend testing
Sources:

Title slide image:

http://www.mpa.uni-stuttgart.de/organisation/fb_1/abt_12/index.en.html

Wrap-Around guided bend test: http://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/job-

knowledge/bend-testing-073/

http://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/job-knowledge/bend-testing-073/

http://www.publiclogic.com/fish/1/DSC07471.JPG

http://www.esabna.com/us/en/education/knowledge/qa/problems-passing-guided-
bend-tests.cfm

http://www.composites.ugent.be/movies/anim_Can_with_water.gif

http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/lib/exe/fetch.php?
w=&h=&cache=cache&media=3-point_flexure.png

http://rocketmaterials.org/datastore/fins/Bend/3-point-bend.JPG

http://img.archiexpo.com/images_ae/photo-g/glulam-timber-pedestrian-bridges-
70349-4290457.jpg

http://www.ecs.csun.edu/hpv/images/IMG_1395.jpg