A small, precisely machined piece of metal, composite, or plastic cut from a larger batch or welded joint. Engineers subject it to destructive testing, such as tensile pulling or fatigue loading, to verify the mechanical properties of the parent material or the quality of a manufacturing process.
The welder needs to submit a test coupon for the new pressure vessel certification.
A failed coupon usually means the entire batch of material or the specific welding procedure must be rejected.
Also heard as
- test coupon
Related terms
Same word, different worlds
A small test piece sprayed alongside production parts to stand in for them in destructive tests.
AdhesivesA small standard test piece, usually a metal or plastic strip, bonded to check adhesive strength or prep.
Printed Circuit BoardsSmall test pattern built on the production panel and measured or sectioned to prove the boards meet spec.
GeosyntheticsNarrow strip cut across a seam sample for peel or shear testing, usually one inch wide.