As 3D printing becomes widespread in high-end fields such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing, material performance has become a core concern in design and production. A well-known manufacturer planned to develop a 3D-printed alloy component that operates reliably in high-temperature environments. To verify the material's high-temperature mechanical performance, the customer wanted a heating test up to 350°C with full-field measurement to obtain strain distribution and displacement data at high temperature, providing data support for product design optimization.

Test Plan and Methods

To meet the customer's needs, Haytham's engineering team designed a test plan based on3D high-temperature video extensometer for high-temperature mechanical performance testing, to precisely capture the material's deformation behavior during heating.

1. Test preparation

Specimen preparation: a random speckle pattern was evenly sprayed onto the 3D-printed alloy surface for full-field strain monitoring.

Equipment setup: using3D high-temperature video extensometer combined with a high-precision temperature-control device to achieve non-contact measurement in high-temperature environments.

Test settings: the specimen temperature was gradually raised to 350°C via the temperature-control device to simulate actual service conditions.

2. Data acquisition

During heating and loading, the DIC system recorded surface displacement and strain distribution in real time, generating dynamic contours and displacement curves that intuitively show how the material's performance changes.

3. Data processing

The bundled DIC analysis software generated Y-direction displacement curves and full-field strain contours, extracting key parameters such as strain concentration zones and maximum displacement to support scientific performance evaluation.

Test Results and Analysis

1. Y-direction displacement distribution

The results show a gradient in surface displacement, gradually increasing from bottom to top. The maximum displacement was about 0.796 mm, with a uniform strain distribution and no obvious stress concentration, indicating good thermal expansion consistency of the material at high temperature.

2. Displacement curve analysis

Displacement curves at key locations follow consistent trends; the material's overall deformation is predictable with no abnormal deformation.

The experimental data gave the customer a reliable high-temperature reference, supporting further research on material formulation and structural optimization. 

Principal strain

Technical Highlights

1. Advantages of Haytham DIC technology

Non-contact measurement: avoids experimental errors that conventional methods may introduce.

Full-field measurement: generates dynamic strain contours and precisely captures every detail.

High-temperature suitability: heat-resistant speckle technology keeps markings stable at 350°C.

2. Test design highlights

Efficient operation: monocular DIC greatly simplifies equipment setup and saves test time.

Real-time data feedback: dynamic contours and curves generated by the system allow quick analysis of key parameters.

The heating test up to 350°C not only verified the high-temperature performance of the 3D-printed alloy but also demonstrated the3D high-temperature video extensometer's powerful advantages in material performance testing. Haytham is committed to providing professional mechanical performance testing solutions for all industries, helping customers face technical challenges and drive product innovation.

If you are also interested in high-temperature material performance testing, feel free to contact us for a customized solution!