: Guidelines on how often these systems should be verified to ensure data integrity during tension or compression tests.
These classes are defined in Table 1 of the standard, which specifies both relative error limits for larger strain values and fixed error limits that apply at very low strain levels where relative errors would become unrealistically restrictive. This dual-limit approach ensures practical yet rigorous requirements across the entire measurement range.
Extensometer systems are classified into the following classes based on the magnitude of their strain measurement errors:
ASTM E83 is a, often referred to as "the standard for extensometer calibration." It covers the procedures used to verify the calibration of extensometer systems.
ASTM E83 is essential for any organization conducting mechanical testing where strain measurement accuracy is critical. Primary users include:
"I need time on the laser extensometer in the grad wing," she said. "And I need to redo my verification runs per E83, section 7.2.1."
Establishes precise definitions for variables like resolution , error , and compounding accuracy .
The verification must take place in a temperature-controlled environment. Temperature variations can cause thermal expansion in both the extensometer and the calibration apparatus, skewing results.
In materials testing, precision is not just a requirement—it is a legal and structural necessity. Whether determining the yield strength of a new aerospace alloy or testing the elasticity of a polymer, engineers rely on exact stress-strain data. At the center of this data collection is the extensometer, a device designed to measure changes in a material's length.
It proves your equipment reads true strain values.
: Step-by-step methods for calibrating extensometers against known reference displacements, such as calibrated micrometers or gauge block systems.
| | Purpose | Relation to ASTM E83 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | ASTM E4 | Verification of testing machines (load frames) | Complementary; E4 covers the force-measuring portion, while E83 covers the strain-measuring portion | | ASTM E251 | Calibration of bonded resistance strain gages | Excluded from E83; different methodology | | ASTM E8/E8M | Tension testing of metallic materials | Often references E83 for acceptable extensometer classes | | ASTM D638 | Tensile properties of plastics | References E83 for strain measurement | | ASTM E9 | Compression testing of metals | References E83 for compression strain measurement | | ASTM E1856 | Guide for computerized data acquisition systems | Related but not directly equivalent | | ASTM A370 | Mechanical testing of steel products | Incorporates E83 by reference |
An ASTM E83 certification is not permanent. To maintain compliance with quality management systems like ISO 9001, AS9100, or Nadcap, systems must undergo regular re-verification.

