Aerospace structures rely on specially engineered metal alloys to perform safely and reliably in the most challenging environments both terrestrial and extraterrestrial. These alloys are subjected to extreme conditions such as high temperature, pressure, and stress, making mechanical testing an essential part of the quality control process. Aerospace engineers require repeatable testing and dependable data to optimize for design and material selection of all aerospace components, and that is particularly true for the metal structures that keep aircraft airborne and on time.

2xxx and 7xxx series alloys are the most common aluminum grades in aerospace manufacturing and are selected for their high strength-to-weight ratio. However, joining operations of both metals require precise controls and verification. Custom fixturing is important for improving throughput of welded components. Titanium alloys, such as 6Al-4V, are also valued for their high strength-to-weight ratio and commonly used in aerospace structure applications throughout the aircraft. The impressive holding capacity of titanium components also means that a great deal of energy is released during specimen failure. This can degrade the condition of low-quality testing frames and extensometers; however, Instron’s product offering is robustly engineered specifically to handle the high shock loads of even the strongest materials.

Mechanical testing is crucial for ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of metal aircraft components. Instron’s solutions are designed to deliver dependable data for the most challenging aerospace metals to advance your design optimization, process development, and quality control initiatives.

The commercial aerospace industry is under pressure to develop engines that are increasingly more powerful and efficient. This has led to significant advances in both the super alloy materials used in these engines and the techniques used to manufacture them. The aggressive environments these components must operate within, with extremely high requirements for safety and durability, has led to a variety of advanced test techniques being developed and refined over the years.

Test results are required to be accurate and comparable between laboratories and the industry is continuously seeking to further reduce sources of potential errors, putting increasing demands on the suppliers of the test equipment. Instron continues to work with the aerospace industry and standards bodies to create a wide range of products and techniques to reduce this variability whilst pushing the boundaries of reducing test time through automation.

• View Furnaces for Testing up to 1200°C
• Watch Video on High Volume Hot Tensile Testing System

While the materials used in the manufacturing of aerospace vehicles is continuously evolving through the introduction of lightweight composites and additive manufacturing, the use of fasteners, nuts, and rivets throughout the vehicle body continues to be utilized as the primary assembly medium. Because these fasteners and rivets must withstand extreme environmental exposure and high stress levels, it is critical that these components are routinely tested against stringent quality standards from both international testing agencies and aerospace-specific organizations such as ASTM and Nadcap.

• View Fastener Testing Fixtures
• Learn How to Construct the Load String for Fastener Testing