Development of a mini-tensile approach for sheet metal testing using Digital Image Correlation

The miniature uniaxial tensile testing is a simple yet powerful method to characterise the behaviour of a material. Based on this technique, an experimental system was developed aiming the determination of sheet metal mechanical properties, using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. A tensile-compression loading device was designed with a maximum load capacity of 2.5 kN. The device includes custom-made clamps that guarantee the alignment of the sample with respect to the loading axis. To evaluate the aptitude of miniature samples and the use of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in this type of scale, some tensile tests were performed using different types of miniaturised geometries and the results were compared with a macro specimen reference. Additionaly, some cyclic tests were also performed, in order to evaluate the possibilities of developed prototype on the tension compression loading paths. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.