How to Measure Flexibility and Bending Force

BENDING FORCE: the physical nature of some products make them more suitable for testing via a bending test. Generally the higher the force to bend (usually up to the point of break) the firmer the sample. The force and distance references at the point of break provide a measure of break strength by this action.

STIFFNESS is associated with a material that cannot easily be bent and therefore has a high degree of hardness and usually lacks flexibility.

FLEXIBILITY is the opposite of this and is a characteristic of a product that can be bent, flexed or deformed to a much higher degree of deformation before failing.

Typical properties that can be obtained from a texture analyser graph:

Stiffness, Hardness, Brittleness, Breaking Strength, Fracturability

Typical Texture Analyser graph with annotated properties of lipstick cantilever bending test and spaghetti flexure test

Typical Probe/Fixture used for Measurement:

Three Point Bend Rig >

Spaghetti Flexure Rig >

Lipstick Cantilever Rig >

Tensile Grips >

The above are only typical examples of bending force/flexibility/stiffness measurement. We can, of course, design and manufacture probes or fixtures that are bespoke to your sample and its specific measurement.

Once your measurement is performed, our expertise in its graphical interpretation is unparalleled – no-one understands texture analysis like we do. Not only can we develop the most suitable and accurate method for the testing of your sample, but we can prepare analysis procedures that obtain the desired parameters from your curve and drop them into a spreadsheet or report designed around your requirements.

Show more properties that a Texture Analyser can measure

Email us to discuss your specific test requirements