Feature

New heights for materials: Bridging the gap between simulation and experimental results

The frustration of trusting in a weather app that forecasts a sunny day, only to be drenched with rain, is a feeling that most people have experienced. The same discrepancy occurs in materials characterisation – without the right data inputs, outputs from modelling don’t always live up to reality. Here, Andrea Incardona, Application Engineer at Instron, explains how dynamic drop testing gives material developers confidence in their prototypes’ viability.

02/06/2025 17:03:03

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Computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulations require high-quality, well-defined and extensive data to yield reliable results. A significant amount of early characterisation work involves establishing basic properties such as density, stiffness, and tensile strength.

Quasi-static testing remains a fundamental technique for characterising material properties. However, although this method gives reliable outputs at ultra-low velocities, it’s less effective for characterising materials under impulsive loads, forcing scientists to extrapolate data gathered at a low velocity.

Read the full article in DPA's June 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.