ABSTRACT
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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. As mechanical testing is a
dynamic field, new tests are continually devised, and older tests are 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.
