ASTM D790 Flexural Testing of Plastics
Testing Tailored to Your Project Needs
This guide covers the key decisions involved in ASTM D790 testing – including test approach, specimen geometry and preparation, test conditions, deflection measurement, reporting, and engineering use. DatapointLabs works with you to develop the test program around your specific requirements, delivering data engineered for your project objectives – from material qualification and comparison to product development, design, and simulation.
Ready to test your material? Tell us about your material and testing goals, and we'll help determine the best test approach.
ASTM D790 Testing at DatapointLabs
| Test Consideration | ASTM D790 |
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| Materials |
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| Test Configuration |
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| Deflection Measurement |
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| Temperature Capabilities |
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| Conditioning |
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| Properties & Data |
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| Typical Uses |
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| Deliverables |
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| Specimen Preparation |
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Advanced Testing Options |
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DatapointLabs ASTM D790 Testing Options
The appropriate DatapointLabs flexural-testing option depends primarily on the required deliverable: reported flexural properties, a complete stress-strain dataset, a composite-specific method, or characterization beyond routine D790 rates. Broader testing is not automatically necessary; the test scope should match the governing requirement and downstream engineering use.
Standards-Based ASTM D790 Flexural Testing
For unfilled plastics, filled plastics, and chopped-fiber composites within the applicable D790 scope, M-015 and M-221 are the principal DatapointLabs test options. Both use the same basic D790 three-point flexural test mechanics and five replicates; the primary distinction is the amount of delivered data. M-015 is appropriate where the immediate need is the measured property values, while M-221 is preferred where the full flexural response and digital curve data are required.
| Test ID | Test Description | Measurement Objective |
|---|---|---|
| M-015 | Flexural Modulus and Strength | Flexural modulus and strength values where a concise standards-based property result is sufficient. |
| M-221 | 3 Point Flexural Stress-Strain, Strength and Modulus | Complete flexural stress-strain data with modulus, peak-strength, and applicable offset-yield measurements. |
Enhanced and Adjacent Flexural Characterization
When the engineering objective extends beyond ordinary ASTM D790 testing, DatapointLabs can extend the program to higher-rate, composite-specific, or four-point flexural methods as appropriate. These options represent related or enhanced characterization rather than additional properties required by ASTM D790 itself.
| Test ID | Test Description | Enhanced Characterization Objective |
|---|---|---|
| M-230 | High Speed 3 Point Flexural Stress-Strain | High-speed flexural characterization based on D790 geometry/calculations for rate-dependent, impact, dynamic-response, or simulation-related applications. |
| M-225 | 4 Point Flexural Stress-Strain, Strength and Modulus | General-plastics four-point flexural testing under ASTM D6272 where the dual-nose loading configuration is appropriate. |
| M-221C | 3 Point Flexural Stress-Strain, Strength and Modulus for Composite Material | Three-point flexural characterization of continuous-fiber polymer-matrix composites under ASTM D7264/D7264M. |
| M-225C | 4 Point Flexural Stress-Strain, Strength and Modulus for Composite Materials | Four-point composite flexure under ASTM D6272 and ASTM D7264/D7264M where that loading configuration is appropriate. |
Scope and Related Flexural Standards
What Does ASTM D790 Establish?
ASTM D790 establishes three-point flexural test methods for unreinforced and reinforced plastics, including high-modulus composites and electrical insulating materials. A rectangular specimen rests on two supports and is loaded at the midpoint by a single loading nose.
The method is generally applicable to rigid and semi-rigid materials. Under D790, flexural strength is not determined for a material that neither breaks nor yields in the outer surface of the specimen within the 5% strain limit.
The standard provides two procedures and two deflection-measurement types. Procedure A and Procedure B differ principally in strain rate. Type I uses crosshead position for deflection measurement, while Type II uses a direct deflection-measurement approach. The procedure and measurement type are part of the test definition and should be identified in reporting.
Limits of ASTM D790 Data
A D790 result is not independent of the test configuration. Specimen depth, support span, surface condition, conditioning, temperature, strain rate, measurement approach, loading-nose geometry, and material orientation can all influence the observed flexural response.
The method is especially useful for quality control and specification purposes, but broader characterization may be needed when the service application differs materially from the standard test in temperature, rate, loading mode, time scale, or stress state.
Three-Point Versus Four-Point Flexure
ASTM D790 is specifically a three-point bending method. Maximum bending moment and maximum outer-fiber stress occur at the central loading location beneath the single loading nose.
Four-point bending uses two loading noses and creates a region of maximum bending moment between them. This can reduce the degree to which the result is dominated by a single localized loading point and can be useful where the material, governing specification, or engineering objective calls for four-point flexure.
ASTM D790 itself identifies ASTM D6272 as the corresponding four-point flexural method. DatapointLabs performs general-plastics four-point flexural testing under ASTM D6272 through M-225, and composite four-point testing under ASTM D6272 and ASTM D7264/D7264M through M-225C.
Is ASTM D790 the Right Flexural Standard?
The appropriate flexural standard depends on the material class, reinforcement architecture, loading configuration, governing specification, existing comparison dataset, and properties or engineering behavior that must be measured.
ASTM D790 versus ASTM D6272
ASTM D790 uses three-point loading; ASTM D6272 uses four-point loading. The methods therefore create different bending-moment and stress distributions and should not be treated as interchangeable simply because both characterize flexural properties of plastics.
Where a four-point configuration is required, ASTM D6272 is the appropriate standard. DatapointLabs provides general-plastics four-point flexural testing under ASTM D6272 through M-225.
ASTM D790 versus ASTM D7264/D7264M
ASTM D790 includes reinforced plastics and high-modulus composites within its broad scope, but DatapointLabs typically uses ASTM D7264/D7264M for dedicated continuous-fiber polymer-matrix composite flexural characterization.
M-221C is the normal three-point composite flexural test option, while M-225C provides the related four-point composite option. This distinction helps keep continuous-fiber laminate testing within a method designed specifically for that material class.
ASTM D790 versus ISO 178
ASTM D790 and ISO 178 address the same general subject – flexural properties of plastics – but differ in technical content. The governing material or product specification, customer requirement, supply-chain convention, or historical dataset should determine which method is used.
| Standard | Typical Application | DatapointLabs Position |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM D790 | Three-point flexural properties of applicable unreinforced and reinforced plastics. | Routine; principal general-plastics flexural standard. View Tests |
| ASTM D6272 | Four-point flexural properties of plastics. | Available through M-225 for general-plastics four-point flexure; also used with M-225C for composite four-point testing. View Tests |
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ASTM D7264/D7264M |
Flexural properties of polymer-matrix composite materials. |
Typical option for continuous-fiber composite flexural testing. View Tests |
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ISO 178 |
Flexural properties of plastics under the ISO system. |
Available; use where the governing requirement calls for ISO 178. View Tests |
Specimens and Preparation
ASTM D790 Specimen Geometry and Span-to-Depth Ratio
ASTM D790 uses solid rectangular specimens. For many materials, a support span-to-specimen-depth ratio of 16:1 is the standard starting configuration, with the specimen loaded flatwise at midspan.
For molding materials, a commonly used specimen is approximately 12.7 mm wide × 3.2 mm thick × 127 mm long. Other dimensions are permitted or required according to material form, thickness, applicable specification, and the provisions of the standard.
The span-to-depth ratio is part of the mechanics of the test, not merely a fixture convenience. If the span is too short relative to specimen depth, shear deformation and localized loading effects can become more influential. If the material or laminate is highly anisotropic, a larger span-to-depth ratio may be needed to obtain the intended bending-dominated response.
Loading Nose and Supports
The loading nose and supports use cylindrical surfaces. Their radii and alignment affect load introduction, local indentation, and stress concentration. Where alternative radii are used to prevent excessive indentation or a premature local failure, the altered geometry should be identified in the report as required by the standard.
Specimen Preparation, Surface Condition, and Material History
DatapointLabs follows the same broad specimen-preparation model used for tensile testing. Customers do not ordinarily need to supply finished flex bars.
Specimens can be molded in-house from supplied pellets or prepared from suitable sheet, plate, molded stock, extruded shapes, plaques, or other practical material forms. The appropriate preparation approach depends on the material, available stock, required geometry, surface condition, and test objective.
ASTM D790 prefers retaining the original surface of sheet material where practical. If machine limitations or specimen requirements require one or both surfaces to be machined, the location of the specimen through the original thickness and the orientation of a machined surface relative to the tension or compression side can become relevant to the result.
Machining, polishing, molding history, residual stress, reinforcement orientation, skin-core structure, and other preparation effects should therefore be kept consistent when comparative data are required unless those variables are deliberately being studied.
Reinforced and Anisotropic Materials
Reinforced plastics can exhibit direction-dependent flexural behavior because of fiber orientation, laminate stacking sequence, molding flow, extrusion direction, or the way specimens are removed from a plaque or finished part.
For highly orthotropic laminates, low in-plane shear strength can make the ordinary 16:1 span-to-depth ratio unsuitable. D790 notes that ratios of 32:1 or 40:1 may be appropriate in some composite cases, and recommends a ratio as high as 60:1 for modulus determination where shear deformation would otherwise significantly reduce the apparent flexural modulus.
The test direction and laminate or processing orientation should therefore be established before specimen preparation and maintained consistently across comparison datasets.
Test Conditions and Procedure
Conditioning and Test Environment
Unless otherwise specified by the governing material specification, purchase order, or other agreed testing requirement, DatapointLabs typically conditions ASTM D790 specimens for 40 hours at 23°C and 50% relative humidity.
For hygroscopic materials, DatapointLabs generally tests dry as molded unless another moisture condition is specified. The intended conditioning state should be established before testing because moisture history can materially affect stiffness, strength, and failure behavior.
ASTM D790 references ASTM D618 for conditioning and test-environment control unless a material specification or contract establishes different requirements.
Nonambient ASTM D790 Testing
DatapointLabs performs D790 flexural testing in-house from −54°C to 200°C, subject to specimen, fixture, and measurement requirements.
A room-temperature result should not automatically be treated as representative of subambient or elevated-temperature service. Where the engineering question is temperature-dependent, testing at several application-relevant temperatures may be more informative than a single ambient measurement.
Procedure A and Procedure B
ASTM D790 provides two test procedures. DatapointLabs can perform either as appropriate to the material and governing requirement; Procedure A is the procedure most commonly requested by customers.
Procedure A
Procedure A uses an outer-fiber strain rate of 0.01 mm/mm/min and is the preferred D790 procedure, particularly for flexural-property measurement and modulus determination.
Procedure B
Procedure B uses an outer-fiber strain rate of 0.10 mm/mm/min. It is intended principally for materials that do not break or yield within the 5% outer-fiber strain limit under Procedure A conditions.
Procedure B is not simply a shorter version of Procedure A. The tenfold change in strain rate can affect the observed response of rate-sensitive plastics, so comparisons should preserve the procedure used.
Type I and Type II Deflection Measurement
ASTM D790 separately identifies two ways of determining specimen deflection. This Type I / Type II distinction is independent of the Procedure A / Procedure B choice.
Type I – Crosshead Position
Type II – Direct Specimen Deflection
Type II uses a direct specimen-deflection measurement approach. Where Type II measurement is desired, the appropriate measurement method can be reviewed with DatapointLabs testing experts based on the material, specimen configuration, and data requirements.
The measurement approach should be identified when datasets are compared because crosshead-derived and direct specimen-deflection measurements can produce different results, particularly for modulus-sensitive work.
Typical ASTM D790 Procedure
The exact procedure depends on the governing material or product specification, specimen geometry and material architecture, required flexural properties, selected Procedure A or Procedure B, deflection-measurement type, conditioning state, and test environment.
ASTM D790 uses three-point loading with the specimen supported at two points and loaded at midspan. The applicable support span, crosshead rate, and deflection measurement approach must be established before testing. Procedure A is the preferred procedure for most flexural-property measurements unless the material specification or test objective requires otherwise; Procedure B provides a higher strain rate for materials that do not break or yield under Procedure A conditions. In either case, D790 does not extend the test beyond the applicable 5% outer-fiber strain limit.
A typical test proceeds as follows:
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Confirm the governing requirementsIdentify the material, applicable specification, specimen geometry and orientation, required flexural properties, conditioning state, test temperature, Procedure A or Procedure B, Type I or Type II deflection measurement, and reporting requirements.
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Prepare and condition the specimensMold, machine, or cut the required rectangular specimens and condition them according to ASTM D618, the governing material specification, or the agreed test requirement. Preserve and document relevant material orientation and surface condition.
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Measure the specimen dimensions and establish the support spanMeasure specimen width and depth at the center of the support span and determine the applicable span from the specimen geometry and D790 provisions. Use the actual measured span for the test calculations.
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Configure the loading and deflection measurementSet the loading nose and supports to the required geometry and configure either Type I crosshead-position measurement or Type II direct specimen-deflection measurement according to the selected test type.
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Calculate and set the test rateCalculate the required crosshead rate from the support span and specimen depth using the strain rate specified for Procedure A or Procedure B, then set the testing machine accordingly.
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Install and align the specimenCenter the specimen on the supports with its long axis perpendicular to the loading nose and supports. Align the loading nose midway between the supports and verify the fixture geometry before loading.
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Apply three-point loading and acquire the flexural responseApply the central load at the specified crosshead rate while recording simultaneous force and deflection data using the selected measurement approach. Record the load-deflection response needed for the requested flexural properties.
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Continue to rupture or the applicable strain limitContinue the test until rupture occurs or the maximum outer-surface strain reaches 5%, while recording any qualifying yield behavior. For materials that do not break or yield under Procedure A conditions, Procedure B may be appropriate, but the D790 method does not continue indefinitely beyond the 5% strain boundary.
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Calculate, review, and report the resultsApply required toe compensation and calculate the requested flexural properties, including modulus, strength, stress at break, stress at specified strain, or offset-yield values as applicable. Review specimen behavior and test validity, then report the required averages, statistical results, test configuration, and digital data.
Test Termination and the 5% Strain Limit
ASTM D790 generally terminates the test when the maximum outer-fiber strain reaches 5%, or when rupture occurs sooner. The method does not extend flexural-strength determination indefinitely beyond that strain boundary.
For materials that do not yield or break under Procedure A before the 5% limit, Procedure B may cause the specimen to yield or rupture within the permitted range. If neither procedure produces the behavior required for a meaningful D790 strength determination, another property or test method may be more appropriate.
Measurements and Reported Data
Flexural Stress, Strength, and Stress at Break
ASTM D790 supports several related but distinct stress quantities. They should not be collapsed into a single generic “strength” value when the material response makes the distinction consequential.
Flexural Strength
Flexural strength is the maximum flexural stress sustained by the specimen within the valid test range. Depending on the material response, the maximum may occur at a yield-like peak or near rupture.
Flexural Stress at Break
Flexural stress at break is the flexural stress corresponding to specimen rupture. For brittle materials it can be particularly meaningful, but it should not automatically be treated as identical to flexural strength for every material.
Stress at a Specified Strain
D790 also permits flexural stress to be reported at a specified strain within the valid strain range. This can be useful when a material does not exhibit a sharp yield or break within the test window.
Offset Yield
Where an offset-yield construction is required, M-221 can report offset-yield stress and strain from the recorded flexural response. The offset selected should be identified because the value depends on the defined construction.
Flexural Strain and Modulus
Flexural strain describes the nominal outer-surface strain at midspan calculated from specimen geometry and deflection.
D790 addresses tangent, secant, and chord modulus concepts. The selected modulus definition and associated strain points should match the governing requirement and be identified where necessary for interpretation or comparison.
D790 also requires appropriate toe compensation where the initial portion of the load-deflection curve reflects seating, indentation, slack, or other test-system effects rather than the material response. Correcting the zero point is important when determining strain, modulus, and offset-yield-related values.
For highly anisotropic laminates, apparent flexural modulus can be reduced by shear deformation at low span-to-depth ratios. That is why the standard provides larger-span guidance for some composite modulus measurements.
Full Stress-Strain Data and Reporting
M-015 provides the requested flexural modulus and strength values. M-221 provides the full flexural stress-strain dataset together with the applicable derived properties, making it the more appropriate choice where the curve itself will be used for engineering analysis, comparison, or downstream data processing.
A D790 report should identify the material, specimen preparation, direction where appropriate, conditioning, specimen dimensions, procedure, measurement type, support span, span-to-depth ratio where nonstandard, loading/support geometry where modified, test rate, requested flexural properties, and observed yielding or rupture behavior.
For Type I testing, ASTM D790 also calls for the report to indicate whether machine-compliance correction was used.
What Affects ASTM D790 Comparability?
Flexural datasets can appear straightforward while still being sensitive to details of specimen preparation and test configuration. Meaningful comparisons require the consequential variables to be held consistent or explicitly documented.
Comparison Variables and Why They Matter
Material Condition and Moisture History
Conditioning and absorbed moisture can alter stiffness, strength, ductility, and failure behavior.
Specimen Geometry and Span-to-Depth Ratio
Flexural response and the required support span depend directly on specimen geometry. Changing the support span-to-depth ratio changes the relative contribution of bending and shear deformation and can alter apparent modulus or failure mode.
Surface Condition and Specimen Preparation
Removing an original surface by machining can change the tested material region, residual stress, skin-core structure, and local failure behavior. Preparation method and surface condition should therefore be reproduced where direct comparison matters.
Material Orientation and Laminate Construction
Reinforced and anisotropic materials can show markedly different flexural response by direction, fiber orientation, and laminate stacking sequence. Comparable datasets should preserve the relevant test direction and layup.
Procedure A Versus Procedure B
Procedure A and Procedure B differ in outer-fiber strain rate by a factor of ten. Rate-sensitive plastics may therefore not give equivalent results when the procedure changes.
Type I Versus Type II Deflection Measurement
Crosshead-position and direct specimen-deflection measurements can produce different deflection and modulus results. The measurement type should be held consistent when datasets are compared.
Loading Nose and Support Geometry
Loading-nose and support radii, alignment, and span geometry affect load introduction, local indentation, stress concentration, and the resulting flexural response.
Temperature and Humidity
Polymer stiffness and failure behavior can change substantially with temperature, moisture state, and humidity. Comparable programs should reproduce the relevant conditioning and test environment.
Test Termination and Reported Property
Flexural strength, stress at break, stress at a specified strain, and yield-related values answer different questions. Comparison requires the same endpoint and property definition, not merely the same ASTM designation.
For qualification programs, supplier comparisons, formulation studies, or historical database comparisons, reproducing the important test details is often as important as reproducing the nominal ASTM designation.
Engineering Use and Characterization Beyond ASTM D790
What Can ASTM D790 Data Support?
ASTM D790 is particularly useful where standardized bending response is itself the required property or comparison basis. Common applications include material specification and qualification, quality control, formulation and processing comparisons, supplier evaluation, research and development, product development, and selected engineering-design applications.
Specification and Qualification
Provides standardized flexural property values where a governing requirement calls for ASTM D790. The applicable specimen, procedure, conditioning, and reporting requirements should be preserved when the data are used for qualification.
Quality Control
Consistently configured flexural testing can reveal shifts associated with material, processing, moisture, or manufacturing changes. Repeatability of the test configuration is essential where relatively small changes are being monitored.
Material and Formulation Comparison
Full curves or selected properties can compare resin systems, fillers, reinforcements, processing conditions, or suppliers, provided that unintended differences in specimen preparation and test configuration are controlled.
Product Development and Design
Flexural modulus, strength, and stress-strain response can support screening and design decisions where bending response is relevant to the application. Their use should remain consistent with the limits of the standardized test condition.
CAE / FEA Support
ASTM D790 can contribute validation or bending-response data, but constitutive calibration may require additional loading modes, rates, temperatures, strain measurements, or other characterization selected for the material model and simulation objective.
When Is Characterization Beyond ASTM D790 Needed?
ASTM D790 provides a standardized measure of flexural behavior under defined test conditions, but it does not, by itself, define a complete material-characterization program for every product-development, design, or simulation objective. Broader characterization may be needed when material response depends on loading rate, temperature, loading configuration, or the requirements of a particular analysis or material model.
High-Speed and Rate-Dependent Flexural Behavior
Procedure A and Procedure B cover standardized low-rate testing. Dynamic, impact, crash, drop, or rapid-loading applications may require higher-rate flexural characterization. DatapointLabs M-230 provides high-speed three-point flexural stress-strain data based on D790 geometry and calculations for rate-dependent, impact, dynamic-response, or simulation-related applications. This is enhanced characterization beyond ordinary D790 test rates, not a routine D790 test performed faster.
Learn more: High Strain Rate Testing
Temperature Dependence
A room-temperature D790 result may not represent stiffness or failure behavior across the service-temperature range. DatapointLabs can test from −54°C to 200°C and can structure multi-temperature programs where the application requires it.
Alternative Loading Configurations
Four-point flexure under ASTM D6272, or composite-specific flexure under ASTM D7264/D7264M, may be more appropriate where the material class or loading configuration differs from the ordinary D790 framework.
CAE and Material-Model Development
Three-point bending produces a nonuniform combined stress state rather than a simple uniform uniaxial condition. D790 data can therefore be useful for model validation, bending-response comparison, or selected engineering inputs without automatically constituting a complete material-model calibration dataset.
Depending on the constitutive model and application, solver-ready characterization may also require tensile, compression, shear, rate-dependent, temperature-dependent, time-dependent, unloading, cyclic, or other material data. DatapointLabs can help determine whether routine D790 data are sufficient or whether the downstream engineering objective calls for a broader characterization scope.
ASTM D790 FAQs
What materials does ASTM D790 cover?
ASTM D790 covers applicable unreinforced and reinforced plastics, including high-modulus composites and electrical insulating materials, tested as solid rectangular specimens in three-point flexure.
Is ASTM D790 a three-point or four-point bending test?
ASTM D790 is a three-point bending method. ASTM D6272 is the corresponding ASTM four-point flexural method for plastics.
Learn more: Three-Point vs. Four-Point Flexure
What is the difference between ASTM D790 Procedure A and Procedure B?
Procedure A uses an outer-fiber strain rate of 0.01/min and is the preferred procedure. Procedure B uses 0.10/min and is intended principally for materials that do not yield or break within the 5% strain limit under Procedure A conditions. DatapointLabs can perform either procedure.
Learn more: Procedure A and Procedure B
Which D790 procedure does DatapointLabs normally perform?
Procedure A is the configuration most commonly requested by DatapointLabs customers. Procedure B is available where appropriate to the material or governing requirement.
Learn more: Procedure A and Procedure B
What is the difference between Type I and Type II ASTM D790 testing?
Type I determines deflection from crosshead position and is the routine DatapointLabs configuration. Type II uses direct specimen-deflection measurement. Where Type II data are desired, the appropriate measurement approach can be reviewed with our testing experts.
Learn more: Type I and Type II
What is the 5% strain limit in ASTM D790?
D790 generally ends the test at rupture or when the maximum outer-fiber strain reaches 5%, whichever occurs first. Flexural strength is not extended beyond that limit for a material that neither yields nor breaks.
Learn more: 5% Strain Limit
Can DatapointLabs prepare ASTM D790 specimens?
Yes. DatapointLabs routinely molds flexural specimens from supplied pellets and can prepare specimens from suitable sheet, plate, molded stock, extruded shapes, plaques, and other practical material forms.
Learn more: Specimen Preparation
How are ASTM D790 specimens normally conditioned at DatapointLabs?
The usual default is 40 hours at 23°C and 50% relative humidity. Hygroscopic materials are generally handled dry as molded unless another conditioning state is specified.
Learn more: Conditioning and Test Environment
Can ASTM D790 testing be performed at elevated or subambient temperature?
Yes. DatapointLabs can perform D790 flexural testing in-house from −54°C to 200°C, subject to specimen, fixture, and measurement requirements.
Learn more: Conditioning and Test Environment
Does ASTM D790 provide a full flexural stress-strain curve?
It can. M-221 provides complete flexural stress-strain data and derived properties. M-015 is appropriate when the required deliverable is primarily the reported modulus and strength values.
Learn more: Testing Options
Should continuous-fiber composites be tested to ASTM D790 or ASTM D7264/D7264M?
Although D790 includes reinforced plastics and high-modulus composites broadly, DatapointLabs typically uses ASTM D7264/D7264M for dedicated continuous-fiber polymer-matrix composite flexural characterization.
Learn more: Choosing the Right Flexural Standard
Is ASTM D790 equivalent to ISO 178?
No. ASTM D790 and ISO 178 address the same general subject but differ technically. The governing specification, customer requirement, or existing comparison dataset should determine which method is used.
Learn more: Choosing the Right Flexural Standard
Can DatapointLabs perform high-speed flexural testing beyond ASTM D790?
Yes. M-230 provides high-speed three-point flexural characterization based on D790 geometry/calculations for rate-dependent applications. This is enhanced characterization beyond ordinary D790 test rates.
Learn more: High-Speed Flexure
Can ASTM D790 data be used for CAE or FEA?
Yes, where appropriate. D790 can provide useful bending-response and validation data, but a complete constitutive material model may require additional tensile, compression, shear, rate, temperature, time-dependent, or other characterization.
Learn more: Beyond ASTM D790
Discuss Your ASTM D790 Testing Requirements
Tell us what material you have, what requirement the results must satisfy, and how the data will be used. We can help align specimen preparation, procedure, conditioning, temperature, measurement approach, and deliverables with that objective.
Where routine ASTM D790 testing is sufficient, the work can be scoped accordingly. Where the intended use requires a broader flexural or material-characterization program, DatapointLabs can identify the additional measurements needed before testing is finalized.
You do not need to have every test detail resolved before contacting the laboratory. DatapointLabs can review the governing requirement, available material, specimen configuration, conditioning, procedure, measurement approach, and required deliverables to help define an appropriate testing plan.
What information is helpful when requesting ASTM D790 testing?
- Material type, grade, reinforcement, and supplied form or available quantity.
- Governing ASTM, ISO, product, OEM, customer, or regulatory specification.
- Whether specimens already exist or DatapointLabs should mold or machine them.
- Material orientation, laminate direction, specimen location, or other sampling requirements.
- Procedure A, Procedure B, or the need for technical guidance where the procedure is not predetermined.
- Routine Type I measurement or any Type II / direct-deflection requirement that should be reviewed with the laboratory.
- Conditioning, moisture state, aging, fluid exposure, humidity, or other environmental requirements.
- Ambient, subambient, or elevated test temperature.
- Required flexural modulus, strength, stress at break, stress at a specified strain, offset-yield values, full stress-strain curves, digital data, or raw-data exports.
- Whether three-point D790, four-point D6272, composite D7264/D7264M, high-speed flexure, or broader characterization may be more appropriate.
- Intended use, such as specification compliance, qualification, quality control, material comparison, product development, design, or CAE/FEA.
