ASTM D953-18

5.1 This pin-bearing strength test for plastics is intended to apply in the specification of various thermoplastic or thermosetting products in sheet form where rivets, bolts, or similar fastenings are to be used in joining members or sections. It also is intended to apply wherever sheet materials of the classes indicated are required to sustain edgewise loads that are applied by means of pins or rods of circular cross section which pierce the sheet perpendicular to the surface.

5.2 The purpose of the test using procedures A and B is to determine the pin-bearing strength of thermoplastic material and to plot the pin-bearing stress versus the deformation of the hole. The allowable deformation of the hole in the material shall be such as to produce no looseness of joints.

5.3 The purpose of procedure C is to determine the ultimate pin-bearing strength of reinforced thermoset material. This test procedure enables the user to test the part in any direction that is intended to carry the pin-bearing loads. The sample size used in this procedure will cover thermoset reinforced plastics that are commonly used in infrastructure applications.

5.4 While it is a known fact that higher strength materials will generally give higher bearing strengths, there is no satisfactory method to estimate pin-bearing strength from tensile or compressive properties of the material.

5.5 Before proceeding with this test method, reference shall be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions or testing parameters or combination thereof covered in the relevant ASTM materials specification shall take precedence over those in this test method. If there are no relevant ASTM material specifications then the default conditions apply.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the pin-bearing strength of rigid plastics in either sheet form, molded form, or in reinforced thermoset form. Procedures A and B are applicable for thermoplastic materials in tension loading and compression loading respectively. Procedure C is applicable for thermoset reinforced plastics. See the significance and use section (Section 5) for cautions in using this test standard.

1.2 Test data obtained by this test method is relevant and appropriate for use in quality control and engineering design.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.