Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing from Udemy

If you are a manufacturing, engineering, or quality professional working in metal processing, having a solid understanding of mechanical testing is certain to enhance your career. The estimations of physical properties needed to design with, process, and test materials and components are derived using various mechanical tests. These properties include:

Tensile
Hardness
Toughness
Compression resistance
Creep resistance
Shear strength
Fatigue life

In this course "Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing", you will learn detailed overviews of each of these tests, how they're performed, and how to interpret their results. You will also learn key ideas in physical metallurgy that affect a component's mechanical properties, and a rich overview of nondestructive test methods.

NDT, as it is called, includes a range of methods that allow a technician to gain critical understanding of a component's quality without damaging the sample. These methods include:

Liquid Penetrant Testing
Magnetic Particle Inspection
Radiography
Eddy Current Testing
Ultrasonic Testing
Visual Testing

In this course, we introduce students to these key methods, highlighting their capabilities and uses.

When you purchase this course, you not only receive LIFETIME ACCESS to all course materials, but you also get Q&A access through Udemy to the course's instructors:

Garry Pace, Licensed professional engineer and metallurgist

Ray Harkins, Senior manufacturing professional

So if you are looking to advance your skill set in the areas of quality, materials science, or materials processing, then this is the class for you. Sign up today to step in the direction of your next career advancement. See you in class.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

01 Introduction to the Course

02 Introduction to Mechanical Testing

03 Introduction to Mechanical Properties

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Provides a solid understanding of mechanical testing, which is certain to enhance the careers of manufacturing, engineering, and quality professionals working in metal processing

Covers nondestructive testing methods, which allows technicians to gain critical understanding of a component's quality without damaging the sample, a key skill in manufacturing

Explores physical metallurgy, which affects a component's mechanical properties, providing a foundation for understanding material behavior in manufacturing and engineering applications

Examines various mechanical tests, such as tensile, hardness, and toughness, which are essential for estimating physical properties needed for material and component design

Includes Q&A access to instructors who are a licensed professional engineer and metallurgist and a senior manufacturing professional, offering valuable expertise

Requires learners to understand calculations, which may require additional study for learners who have not recently engaged with mathematics or engineering

Reviews summary

Fundamentals of mechanical testing overview

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in the principles of mechanical testing and materials properties. Many appreciate the clear explanations of core concepts like tensile and hardness testing. The section covering Nondestructive Testing (NDT) is also highlighted as a valuable introduction to various methods. Students find the content highly relevant for professionals working in manufacturing, quality, or engineering roles related to metals and materials processing. While the theoretical coverage is strong, some reviews suggest the course could benefit from more practical examples or detailed hands-on application, indicating it serves best as a foundational course rather than an in-depth practical guide.

Provides a useful overview of NDT methods.

"The section on Nondestructive Testing was a good addition and helpful introduction."

"Learned about the basics of several NDT methods covered in the course."

"Found the coverage of different NDT techniques useful for context."

Applicable to industry work.

"This course is very relevant to my work in quality control and materials."

"I can apply much of what I learned directly to my job in manufacturing."

"A useful class for anyone working with metals or mechanical properties in industry."

Instructors explain concepts effectively.

"The instructor did a great job explaining the concepts in a clear and concise way."

"I appreciated how clearly the material was presented throughout the lectures."

"The lectures were easy to understand and follow along with."

Covers fundamental mechanical tests well.

"I found the explanations of tensile and hardness testing very clear and easy to grasp."

"The course covers the core mechanical tests like tensile, hardness, and toughness effectively."

"Gives you a solid understanding of the main types of mechanical testing methods."

Could use more practical examples.

"Wish there were more real-world examples or hands-on demonstrations shown."

"While the theory is good, I felt it was limited in practical application details."

"The course is a bit too theoretical, lacking sufficient insights into actual testing setup."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing with these activities:

Review Physical Metallurgy Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of physical metallurgy to better grasp how it affects mechanical properties.

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Review your notes from previous materials science courses.
Work through practice problems related to phase diagrams and heat treatment.
Identify areas where your understanding is weak.

Review 'Mechanical Behavior of Materials' by Dowling

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Deepen your understanding of material behavior and its relation to mechanical testing.

View Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Global Edition on Amazon

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Read the chapters related to tensile, hardness, and fatigue testing.
Work through the example problems in the book.
Compare the book's explanations with the course material.

Practice Tensile Testing Calculations

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Improve your ability to perform tensile testing calculations accurately and efficiently.

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Calculate stress, strain, Young's modulus, and yield strength for various materials.
Check your answers against solutions.
Repeat until you can solve problems quickly and accurately.

Four other activities

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Review 'ASM Handbook, Volume 8: Mechanical Testing and Evaluation'

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Gain a deeper understanding of mechanical testing procedures and data analysis.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Browse the sections related to specific testing methods covered in the course.
Study the detailed descriptions of test equipment and procedures.
Review the information on data analysis and interpretation.

Create a Presentation on Nondestructive Testing Methods

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Solidify your understanding of NDT methods by researching and presenting on their principles, applications, and limitations.

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Choose a specific NDT method (e.g., ultrasonic testing).
Research the method's principles, equipment, and applications.
Prepare a presentation with clear explanations and visuals.
Present your findings to a study group or online forum.

Create a Data Visualization of Fatigue Test Results

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Enhance your understanding of fatigue testing by creating a visual representation of fatigue data.

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Obtain a dataset of fatigue test results (e.g., S-N curve data).
Choose an appropriate visualization tool (e.g., Excel, Python with Matplotlib).
Create a graph showing the relationship between stress and fatigue life.
Add labels, titles, and annotations to clearly communicate the results.

Design a Mechanical Testing Experiment

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Apply your knowledge by designing an experiment to determine the mechanical properties of a material.

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Choose a material and a mechanical property to test.
Select an appropriate testing method (e.g., tensile testing).
Develop a detailed experimental procedure.
Identify potential sources of error and how to minimize them.
Write a report outlining your experiment and expected results.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical devices and systems. A strong understanding of material properties and mechanical testing methods is fundamental to this profession. The course on Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing can help mechanical engineers in the field of engineering. The course's deep dives in tensile, hardness, toughness, and fatigue testing are essential for designing reliable and efficient machines and systems. Furthermore, the introduction to nondestructive testing methods equips the mechanical engineer with tools for assessing component quality and identifying potential failure points. This foundational knowledge will serve any mechanical engineer well in their career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Materials Engineer

A materials engineer develops, processes, and tests materials used to create a wide range of products. This course on the Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing provides a solid foundation for any aspiring materials engineer by explaining the essentials of mechanical testing and how to interpret the results. Understanding the physical properties of materials is crucial for selecting the right materials for specific applications. The course's detailed overviews of tensile, hardness, toughness, compression resistance, and creep resistance testing will allow a future materials engineer to characterize material behavior. Furthermore, the content relating to nondestructive testing methods may particularly help materials engineers understand and assess material quality without causing damage.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Quality Control Inspector

Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications. You can boost your career as a quality control inspector by understanding the fundamentals of mechanical testing, and this course provides just that. The knowledge of tensile, hardness, and toughness testing gained here would directly apply to assessing the quality of materials and products. Learning about nondestructive testing methods covered in this course, such as liquid penetrant testing and ultrasonic testing, will further enhance a quality control inspector's ability to identify defects without damaging the product. This comprehensive introduction is ideal for those looking to ensure the highest standards in manufacturing.

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Metallurgical Technician

Metallurgical technicians assist metallurgists and engineers in the research, development, and testing of metals. Understanding the properties of metals and how they behave under different conditions is critical for this role. This course on Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing helps build a foundation of knowledge about mechanical testing and interpreting their results. The course explores tensile testing, hardness testing, toughness testing, and fatigue life assessment, alongside an exploration into physical metallurgy. This will enable a metallurgical technician to perform tests and analyze data more effectively. In particular, the components on physical metallurgy within the course content may prove helpful for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Metallurgical Technician

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing engineers design, develop, and manage manufacturing processes. A key aspect of this role involves understanding the mechanical properties of materials used in production. This course on Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing helps build a strong understanding of these properties. The coverage of tensile, hardness, toughness, compression, and shear strength testing methods provides a manufacturing engineer with valuable insights into material behavior. Furthermore, the nondestructive testing segment introduces valuable techniques for assessing component quality without causing damage, a significant advantage in the manufacturing sector. A manufacturing engineer might find the metallurgy section of the course particularly useful.

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NDT Technician

Nondestructive testing technicians use various techniques to examine materials and components for defects without causing damage. If you are interested in becoming an NDT technician, this course may give you a head start in this career. The course provides an overview of nondestructive testing methods, equipping a technician with the knowledge of liquid penetrant testing, magnetic particle inspection, radiography, eddy current testing, ultrasonic testing, and visual testing. By understanding the capabilities and uses of each method, an aspiring NDT technician can confidently apply these techniques in their daily work. The comprehensive coverage of NDT methods in this course particularly helps NDT Technicians.

See salaries and explore the career path for NDT Technician

Product Development Engineer

Product development engineers are responsible for designing and developing new products or improving existing ones. Understanding material properties and how they perform under various conditions is an essential part of this job. This course on the Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing may enhance a future product development engineer's understanding of how materials behave under stress, strain, and other mechanical loads. The detailed overviews of mechanical tests such as tensile, hardness, and toughness testing may help in selecting appropriate materials for new product designs and predicting their performance. The content relating to fatigue life assessment can be particularly helpful in predicting product durability.

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Reliability Engineer

Reliability engineers work to ensure the reliability and durability of products and systems. A deep understanding of material properties and failure mechanisms is crucial for this role. This course may be useful for reliability engineers to assess risk. With content reviewing tensile, hardness, toughness, and fatigue testing, the course can help a future reliability engineer in predicting and preventing failures. Additionally, the introduction to nondestructive testing methods may enable them to identify potential defects before they lead to failures. The content relating to fatigue life assessment might be especially relevant to a reliability engineer.

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Failure Analysis Engineer

Failure analysis engineers investigate the causes of failures in materials, components, or systems. This often involves conducting mechanical tests and analyzing the resulting data. This course may be particularly useful for anyone pursuing this kind of career path, discussing the fundamentals of mechanical testing. The detailed overviews of tests like tensile testing, hardness testing, and toughness testing can help a failure analysis engineer in understanding the mechanical behavior of materials leading up to failure. The NDT portion can help discover unseen flaws. This knowledge can prove invaluable in determining the root cause of failures and implementing corrective actions.

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Welding Engineer

Welding engineers develop and oversee welding procedures to ensure the integrity and quality of welded joints. Understanding the mechanical properties of metals and how they are affected by welding processes is critical for this role. This course may be an introduction to how materials behave under a variety of testing conditions. The course's coverage of tensile, hardness, toughness, and fatigue testing can help a future welding engineer in assessing the strength and durability of welded joints. The content on nondestructive testing can also be used to identify defects in welds. The physical metallurgy content may also provide additional helpful background.

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Process Engineer

Process engineers are involved in designing, developing, and optimizing industrial processes. In many industries, this involves working with materials and understanding their properties. This course may serve as an introduction to the ways in which materials properties are measured via various tests. The course's exploration of tensile, hardness, and compression testing methods can help a process engineer select appropriate materials and optimize processes for manufacturing. The nondestructive testing segment introduces techniques for monitoring component quality during processing. Depending on the specific industry, the physical metallurgy component of this course might also prove useful.

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Laboratory Technician

Laboratory technicians perform tests and experiments in a laboratory setting, often assisting scientists and engineers. This role may involve preparing samples, operating equipment, and recording data. If you're looking to become a Laboratory technician, this course may prove useful to you. The course provides an overview of mechanical testing principles and methods, which can help a technician in performing tests accurately and interpreting results effectively. The knowledge of nondestructive testing gained could also be valuable in assessing sample quality. The focus on test procedures makes this course tangentially relevant for laboratory work.

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Civil Engineer

Civil engineers design, construct, and maintain infrastructure projects such as bridges, buildings, and roads. Understanding the mechanical properties of materials like concrete, steel, and asphalt is crucial for ensuring structural integrity. This course may give a civil engineer an advantage in assessing the materials they use. The course's coverage of tensile, compression, and toughness testing can help a civil engineer in predicting the behavior of materials under load. The nondestructive testing segment might also be helpful for assessing the condition of existing structures. The focus on material properties may bolster a civil engineer's knowledge base.

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Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft and spacecraft. This field requires a deep understanding of material properties and how they perform under extreme conditions. This course may be useful for an Aerospace Engineer, covering testing methods that enable assessment of material properties. Learning about tensile, fatigue, and toughness testing can help an aerospace engineer in selecting materials that can withstand the stresses of flight. The nondestructive testing segment might also be helpful for inspecting aircraft components for defects. The topics of fatigue testing and metallurgy may be particularly relevant to this field.

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Automotive Engineer

Automotive engineers design, develop, and manufacture vehicles. This requires a thorough understanding of material properties and how they contribute to vehicle performance and safety. This course may familiarize automotive engineers with testing methodologies. The course's coverage of tensile, hardness, toughness, and fatigue testing can help an automotive engineer in selecting materials for vehicle components and predicting their durability. The nondestructive testing segment might also be helpful for inspecting parts for defects. The focus on metal properties may provide deeper insights for engineers in this field.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Save

This handbook comprehensive reference on mechanical testing methods and evaluation techniques. It covers a wide range of tests, including tensile, hardness, toughness, fatigue, and creep testing. It provides detailed information on test procedures, equipment, and data analysis. valuable resource for engineers, technicians, and researchers involved in mechanical testing and materials characterization. It is commonly used as a reference by industry professionals.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

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Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

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Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Global Edition

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanical behavior of materials, covering topics such as stress-strain relationships, fracture mechanics, fatigue, and creep. It valuable reference for understanding the underlying principles behind mechanical testing and interpreting test results. The book is commonly used as a textbook in materials science and engineering courses, making it a useful resource for students seeking a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Global Edition

Paperback

$$$

Fundamentals of Mechanical Testing

What's inside

Syllabus

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