Testing Materials are tested to determine their basic properties. In particular, the testing of materials has as its objective the performance of tests to determine numerical values for properties. Macromechanical systems provide data on the strength, fatigue, and tribological properties of materials mainly for engineering design of components, whereas micromechanical systems permit detailed experiments for determining and describing specific mechanisms of failure. The terms testing and inspection are often used interchangeably, but they should not be. Table 4-4 provides a summary of the general types of tests used to determine the properties discussed in this module.
Materials testing is widespread throughout industry and government.
Read the caption in Figure 4-40. Every aspect of this amusement must meet rigid quality standards to ensure the safety of riders while protecting the designers, builders, and operators of the ride from product liability. This includes the steel structural pipes and other structural members that make up the track. Also involved are the wheels, bearings, and suspension system that connects the cars to the track. It includes the composite body that shrouds the cars and makes the seats.