Young’s modulus for cast iron

Young’s modulus and other material properties for cast iron

Our RFDA’s or Resonance Frequency and Damping Analysers merely need a single test to determine Young’s modulus, shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio for cast iron. By tapping the sample with a small projectile, the material produces vibrations which can be recorded with a microphone or laser vibrometer. The vibration signals are accurately analysed by the RFDA measurement system. The resonant frequency from the flexural vibration mode of a slender prismatic bar in combination with the mass and dimension is used to calculate the Young’s modulus. Likewise the fundamental torsion frequency is used to calculate the shear modulus. With Young’s modulus and shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio is calculated simultaneously. Except for an accurate analysis of the resonant frequency, the RFDA determines the internal friction or damping value which is correlated to the graphite and matrix structure of a cast iron.

Applying this procedure as function of temperature gives access to thermo-mechanical properties of cast iron. Apart from cast iron, other material types such as ceramics and composites, can also be tested through this method.