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Material Measurement Laboratory /Materials Science and Engineering Division

Mechanical Performance Group

The Mechanical Performance Group develops measurement methods, models, data, standards, and science for the mechanical properties of advanced materials (e.g., high strength steel, aluminum alloys, composites) and materials under extreme environmental and operating conditions. The Group provides expertise needed to determine materials and system performance within and outside design limits, and generates and disseminates reliable mechanical

 
The Group:
  • Generates and disseminates reliable mechanical property data;
  • Standardizes, both nationally and internationally, mechanical property test methods.
  • Performs forensic analysis of failed components and assists in investigations.

 

Group Competence

  • Mechanical testing at all size, rate and temperature scales
  • Multiaxial deformation and yield surface measurement
  • X-ray and neutron stress and microstructural measurements
  • Standard Reference Materials (SRM)
  • Hardness measurements and standards
  • Hydrogen embrittlement and stress-corrosion cracking
  • Finite-element analysis
  • Plasticity theory
  • Atomistic modeling
  • Shape memory alloys

News and Updates

Thermographic image of polymer extrusion with MML Measures up logo

Model Behavior

NIST is helping additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, mature from a potentially disruptive technology into a widespread industrial

Projects and Programs

Automotive Lightweighting

Ongoing
The US auto industry spends $600M per year fixing and tweaking forming dies that do not make correct parts. The primary reason that the dies are inaccurate is that the computer models of the dies utilize materials models that are inaccurate. Upon surveying our industrial partners, we determined that

Dynamic Plasticity: Non-Equilibrium Mechanics

Ongoing
The optimization of high-speed machining processes through powerful finite element modeling techniques is an important pathway to American manufacturing competitiveness in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Quantitatively accurate simulations of machining rely on robust constitutive
Picture for Hardness and Coating Thickness Standardization and Measurements Project Including Equipment and Standards Organizations

Hardness Standardization and Measurements

Ongoing
DESCRIPTION Purpose: Provide measurement traceability for the Knoop, Rockwell, and Vickers hardness scales and for coating thickness measurements that are based on magnetic methods. Goals: Harmonization of hardness and coating thickness testing protocols, in pursuit of reduction of measurement
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Publications

Three-dimensional nucleation and growth of deformation twins in magnesium

Author(s)
Sangwon Lee, Michael Pilipchuk, Can Yildirim, Duncan Greeley, Qianying Shi, Tracy Berman, Adam Creuziger, Evan Rust, Carsten Detlefs, Veera Sundararaghavan, John Allison, Ashley Bucsek
At two-thirds the weight of aluminum, magnesium alloys have the potential to significantly reduce the fuel consumption of transportation vehicles. These

Awards