ABSTRACT
Mechanical testing is necessary to ensure that components will not fail in service. Testing is performed so that the designer can predict the performance of a part or a component in the field. In this chapter, a brief description of design theories and selected testing methods that are available to the designer to predict component serviceability under realistic conditions are provided. Often, mechanical testing is done for quality control. Since mechanical testing is a dynamic field, new tests are continually being devised, and older tests are being revised, and reinterpreted, for cost or performance reasons. Therefore, a review of the literature should be conducted to conserve materials, achieve reliability, and minimize environmental impact.
