Document ID: APP-D6117
Public Compliance Release

ASTM D6117 Test Guide: Shear Testing for Plastics

Architecture
NEWTON™ 32-BIT

Application Details

Standard:
ASTM D6117
Material Type:
Plastics
Specimen Type:
Test Type:
Shear
Industry:
Construction
Mechanicaltest.org | Applications

The Challenge Gap

Localized plastic deformation and material splitting during high-load screw extraction generate extraneous displacement noise, masking true withdrawal capacity.

The Solution

Utilize a heavy-duty dual-column frame fitted with a self-aligning fastener withdrawal fixture and direct-contact linear displacement sensors.

Insight

Ensure the fastener is driven perfectly perpendicular to the plastic lumber face using a mechanical drill press guide to prevent angled thread engagements.

Required Test Equipment for ASTM D6117

Software

Driven by the Newton N-D6117 software module to evaluate the structural integrity, pull-out force, and lateral resistance profiles of architectural fastening systems.

Grips/Fixtures

Includes specialized multi-axis mechanical fixtures supporting self-aligning tension-perpendicular pull plates and lateral shear anchoring blocks.

Extensometer

Equipped with a localized high-resolution clip-on extensometer or an axial LVDT tracking micro-scale movement across the fastener interface.

Insight

Ensure the fastener is driven perfectly perpendicular to the plastic lumber face using a mechanical drill press guide to prevent angled thread engagements.

The Newton Advantage

High-resolution data engine tracks the gradual, micro-slip structural breakdown of the embedded thread profiles at 1000Hz natively.

Expert Engineering Commentary

Core Problem Identification

Fastener head stripping or thread shear-out prior to achieving uniform bulk material failure within the plastic matrix.

Root Cause Analysis

Pre-drilling pilot holes with incorrect bit diameters or misaligning the extraction tool axis relative to the driven fastener shaft line.

Hardware Specific Solutions

Self-aligning fastener extraction clevis fixture with hardened pull plates and a universal spherical seat coupling.

Mechanics & Specimen Behavior

Primary Mechanics

Direct vertical tensile pulling (withdrawal resistance) or perpendicular shearing (lateral resistance) applied to fasteners embedded in plastic blocks.

Specimen Details

Solid rectangular plastic lumber blocks containing a centrally driven mechanical fastener (screw, nail, or bolt).

Mechanical Ratios & Properties

Specimen block dimensions vary by fastener size; standard withdrawal testing utilizes a minimum thickness matching the full fastener embedment depth.

Additional Commentary

Universal spherical seating adapters eliminate parasitic bending moments by automatically centering the tensile pulling force down the fastener shaft core.

Pro Tip

Maintain a strict 24-hour conditioning dwell period between driving the fastener and executing the extraction profile to allow for viscoelastic plastic relaxation.

Common Pitfalls

Using an incorrect pilot hole diameter, which completely distorts the true thread-to-matrix mechanical interlocking matrix.

Analysis & Calculation Standards

Event & Failure Detection
Continuous tracking of the ultimate peak extraction force combined with automated slope calculation for initial withdrawal stiffness.
Required Calculations
Fastener Withdrawal Resistance (N/mm of penetration), Maximum Pull-Out Force, and Lateral Shear Strength limits.
Statistical Outputs
Batch mean values, standard deviation of peak withdrawal loads, and failure characterization logs across a 5-sample lot.
Let's Find the Right ASTM D6117 Equipment for Your Application

The Newton™ 32-Bit
Difference

Typical testing system controllers rely on 24-bit resolution. Under high-accuracy flexural analysis, this creates a data phenomenon called **”stair-stepping”** or quantization error. When trying to track minor micro-deflection in rigid polymers, 24-bit electronic circuits suffer from resolution limits, dropping critical transition points during initial load curves.

Newton Characterization™ architecture utilizes a 32-bit analog-to-digital processor converter. This increases measurement fidelity by a factor of 256x, outputting 4.29 billion discrete signal thresholds. Electrical chatter is actively muted under a dedicated 100,000:1 Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).

Simulate Signal Mode

Real-Time Continuous Sampling Simulation

Comparing standard 24-bit quantization with Newton™ 32-bit resolution

Observe the stepped resolution blocks in the legacy 24-bit curve (Red) versus the absolute **analog-smooth response curve** captured by Newton™ 32-bit architectures (Green). This fidelity is what prevents mechanical data variance during modulus evaluation.

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