ASTM E74-13a

Standard Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Testing machines that apply and indicate force are in general use in many industries. Practices E4 has been written to provide a practice for the force verification of these machines. A necessary element in Practices E4 is the use of devices whose force characteristics are known to be traceable to national standards. Practice E74 describes how these devices are to be calibrated. The procedures are useful to users of testing machines, manufacturers and providers of force measuring instruments, calibration laboratories that provide the calibration of the instruments and the documents of traceability, and service organizations that use the devices to verify testing machines.
SCOPE
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to specify procedures for the calibration of force-measuring instruments. Procedures are included for the following types of instruments:  
1.1.1 Elastic force-measuring instruments, and  
1.1.2 Force-multiplying systems, such as balances and small platform scales. Note 1—Verification by deadweight loading is also an acceptable method of verifying the force indication of a testing machine. Tolerances for weights for this purpose are given in Practices E4; methods for calibration of the weights are given in NIST Technical Note 577, Methods of Calibrating Weights for Piston Gages.2  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Other metric and inch-pound values are regarded as equivalent when required.  
1.3 This practice is intended for the calibration of static force measuring instruments. It is not applicable for dynamic or high speed force calibrations, nor can the results of calibrations performed in accordance with this practice be assumed valid for dynamic or high speed force measurements.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2013
• ICS: 17.100 - Measurement of force, weight and pressure
• Technical Committee: E28 - Mechanical Testing
• Drafting Committee: E28.01 - Calibration of Mechanical Testing Machines and Apparatus

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E74-13 - Standard Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM C1857/C1857M-19 - Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Adhesion (Pull-Off) Strength of Concrete Repair and Overlay Mortar
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E292-18 - Standard Test Methods for Conducting Time-for-Rupture Notch Tension Tests of Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E103-17 - Standard Practice for Rapid Indentation Hardness Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E3098-17 - Standard Test Method for Mechanical Uniaxial Pre-strain and Thermal Free Recovery of Shape Memory Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM F3109-23 - Standard Practice for Verification of Multi-Axis Force Measuring Platforms
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM C900-19 - Standard Test Method for Pullout Strength of Hardened Concrete
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E21-20 - Standard Test Methods for Elevated Temperature Tension Tests of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM C1196-20 - Standard Test Method for In Situ Compressive Stress Within Solid Unit Masonry Estimated Using Flatjack Measurements
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2546-15(2023) - Standard Practice for Instrumented Indentation Testing
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D76/D76M-21 - Standard Specification for Tensile Testing Machines for Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM F377-03(2022) - Standard Practice for Calibration of Braking/Tractive Measuring Devices for Testing Tires
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E139-11(2018) - Standard Test Methods for Conducting Creep, Creep-Rupture, and Stress-Rupture Tests of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM F1062-97(2018) - Standard Test Method for Verification of Ski Binding Test Devices
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Referred By: ASTM E2624-17 - Standard Practice for Torque Calibration of Testing Machines
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E74 − 13a
Standard Practice of
Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the
1
Force Indication of Testing Machines
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE74;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope E29Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to specify procedures for
E1012Practice for Verification of Testing Frame and Speci-
the calibration of force-measuring instruments. Procedures are
men Alignment Under Tensile and Compressive Axial
included for the following types of instruments:
Force Application
1.1.1 Elastic force-measuring instruments, and
1.1.2 Force-multiplyingsystems,suchasbalancesandsmall 2.2 American National Standard:
4
platform scales. B46.1Surface Texture
NOTE 1—Verification by deadweight loading is also an acceptable
ELASTIC FORCE-MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
method of verifying the force indication of a testing machine. Tolerances
for weights for this purpose are given in Practices E4; methods for
3. Terminology
calibrationoftheweightsaregiveninNISTTechnicalNote577,Methods
2
of Calibrating Weights for Piston Gages.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 3.1.1 elastic force-measuring instrument—a device or sys-
standard. Other metric and inch-pound values are regarded as
tem consisting of an elastic member combined with a device
equivalent when required. for indicating the magnitude (or a quantity proportional to the
magnitude) of deformation of the member under an applied
1.3 This practice is intended for the calibration of static
force.
force measuring instruments. It is not applicable for dynamic
3.1.2 primary force standard—a deadweight force applied
or high speed force calibrations, nor can the results of
directly without intervening mechanisms such as levers, hy-
calibrations performed in accordance with this practice be
draulic multipliers, or the like, whose mass has been deter-
assumed valid for dynamic or high speed force measurements.
mined by comparison with reference standards traceable to
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
national standards of mass.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.1.3 secondary force standard—an instrument or
mechanism, the calibration of which has been established by
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. comparison with primary force standards.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2. Referenced Documents
3.2.1 calibration equation—a mathematical relationship be-
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tweendeflectionandforceestablishedfromthecalibrationdata
E4Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
for use with the instrument in service, sometimes called the
calibration curve.
3.2.2 continuous-reading instument—a class of instruments
1
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE28onMechanical
whose characteristics permit interpolation of forces between
Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.01 on Calibration of
calibrated forces.
Mechanical Testing Machines and Apparatus.
Current edition approved May 1, 2013. Published May 2013. Originally
3.2.2.1 Discussion—Such instruments usually have force-
approved in 1947. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E74–13. DOI:
to-deflection relationships that can be fitted to polynominal
10.1520/E0074-13A.
2 equations.
Available from National Institute for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg,
MD 20899.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E74 − 13a
3.2.3 creep—The change in deflection of the force- calibration force sequence, The Lower Limit Factor is one
measuring instrument under constant applied force. component of the measurement uncertainty. Other uncertainty
components should be included in a comprehensive measure-
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Creep is expressed as a percen
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E74 − 13 E74 − 13a
Standard Practice of
Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the
1
Force Indication of Testing Machines
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E74; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 The purpose of this practice is to specify procedures for the calibration of force-measuring instruments. Procedures are
included for the following types of instruments:
1.1.1 Elastic force-measuring instruments, and
1.1.2 Force-multiplying systems, such as balances and small platform scales.
NOTE 1—Verification by deadweight loading is also an acceptable method of verifying the force indication of a testing machine. Tolerances for weights
for this purpose are given in Practices E4; methods for calibration of the weights are given in NIST Technical Note 577, Methods of Calibrating Weights
2
for Piston Gages.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Other metric and inch-pound values are regarded as
equivalent when required.
1.3 This practice is intended for the calibration of static force measuring instruments. It is not applicable for dynamic or high
speed force calibrations, nor can the results of calibrations performed in accordance with this practice be assumed valid for
dynamic or high speed force measurements.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E1012 Practice for Verification of Testing Frame and Specimen Alignment Under Tensile and Compressive Axial Force
Application
2.2 American National Standard:
4
B46.1 Surface Texture
ELASTIC FORCE-MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 elastic force-measuring device—instrument—a device or system consisting of an elastic member combined with a device
for indicating the magnitude (or a quantity proportional to the magnitude) of deformation of the member under an applied force.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on Mechanical Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.01 on Calibration of
Mechanical Testing Machines and Apparatus.
Current edition approved March 1, 2013May 1, 2013. Published May 2013. Originally approved in 1947. Last previous edition approved in 20122013 as
E74 – 12.E74 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/E0074-13.10.1520/E0074-13A.
2
Available from National Institute for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
4
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E74 − 13a
3.1.2 primary force standard—a deadweight force applied directly without intervening mechanisms such as levers, hydraulic
multipliers, or the like, whose mass has been determined by comparison with reference standards traceable to national standards
of mass.
3.1.3 secondary force standard—an instrument or mechanism, the calibration of which has been established by comparison with
primary force standards.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 calibration equation—a mathematical relationship between deflection and force established from the calibration data for
use with the instrument in service, sometimes called the calibration curve.
3.2.2 continuous-reading device—instument—a class of instruments whose characteristics permit interpolation of forces
between calibrated forces.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
Such instruments usual
...