An Automated Mechanical Property Testing System Based on Electric Field Assistance and Non-Contact Signal Measurement

The measurement of material mechanical properties is essential for research in material preparation, finite element simulation, and processing window development. Traditional commercial thermal-mechanical simulators, such as GLEEBLE and MMS, are widely used to measure the mechanical properties of metallic materials at elevated temperatures. However, these devices face significant limitations, including single-point strain and temperature measurement capabilities, high operational costs, and long lead times for outsourced testing. These challenges highlight the urgent need for the development of a cost-effective testing device that ensures not only accurate measurement of material mechanical properties but also rapid adaptability to meet diverse market demands. Therefore, this study developed an automated mechanical property testing system that integrated electric field-assisted heating, loading, air/water cooling, non-contact strain and thermal imaging, and digital programmable control, enabling the measurement of tensile, compression, bending, and shear properties of metallic materials at elevated temperatures. The system’s capability to obtain accurate and reliable data on temperature, stress, displacement, and strain signals was validated through high-temperature uniaxial tensile tests on a dual-phase Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) titanium alloy. Additionally, the effects of heating rate and deformation temperature on the mechanical strength, failure elongation, and microstructure of TC4 were investigated. Furthermore, a viscoplastic constitutive model was developed to accurately predict the true stress-strain curves under various testing conditions. This study offers a cost-effective solution for collecting thermomechanical signals during property testing of metallic materials, thereby facilitating the development of their processing windows.