32 Tensile Tests: Shear and Peel
The spot-weld tension shear test has a similar set up as the Tensile Test. Two arms clamp the piece in place and it stretches, pulling the spot weld apart.
An inexpensive alternative to the spot-weld tension shear test is the peel test. A peel test is a shear test in which a specimen is gripped in a vise and then bent and peeled apart with pincers to reveal the weld. The weld size is measured and compared to that required for the joint. If the weld size is equal to or exceeds the standard size for the design, the production weld is acceptable. The peel test may not be suitable for high-strength base metal or for thick sheets of metal.
