The tensile test is a common test performed on metals, wood, plastics, and most other materials. Tensile loads are those that tend to pull the specimen apart, putting the specimen in tension. They can be performed on any specimen of known cross-sectional area and gauge length to which a uniform tensile load can be applied.
Tensile tests are used to determine the mechanical behaviour of materials under static, axial tensile, or stretch loading. Data and calculations for these tests include tensile stress, tensile strength, elastic limit, percent elongation, modulus of elasticity, proportional limit, percent reduction in area, yield point, yield strength, and similar properties.