BARBELL TENSILE STRENGTH, HOW IS IT MEASURED?
TINSILE STRENGTH
Without going to sciencey, tensile strength is the steel’s ability to bend then return back to straight. Cheap bars bend easily and are permanently warped, the two main tensile strengths are 190k PSI and 215k PSI. Covered more in previous post “BARBELL BREAKDOWN”.
HOW IS IT MEASURED?
Measurements are usually done in a lab using a tension testing machine, it is unlikely a manufacturer would have the testing equipment to 100% accurately measure tensile strength (PSI).
The steel is screwed or clamped between two holding grips. The machine records the force that the steel is pulled apart by increasing tension, when the steel begins to stretch this is called yield strength. The force that the steel can take that elongates yet the steel can return back to its original shape is tensile strength.
LAB REPORT
FACTORY TESTS
Factory tests are caried out by bending the bar to 30 degrees and holding the position for 24hrs. When the bar is released it should return to a straightness with an entire bar deviation of no more than 0.6mm.
CONCLUSION
The only way to guarantee tensile strength of a barbell is independent lab testing by a reputable lab such as SGS or TUV. However, for everybody accept competitive lifters, internal factory testing is more than enough to provide a 99% accurate PSI number.
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Please take a look at our range of barbells and if you need any help, get in touch.
