A universal testing machine (UTM), also known as a universal tester,[1] materials testing machine or materials test frame, is used to test the tensile strength and compressive strength of materials. An earlier name for a tensile testing machine is a tensometer. The "universal" part of the name reflects that it can perform many standard tensile and compression tests on materials, components, and structures (in other words, that it is versatile).

A Universal testing machine (UTM) is used to test the mechanical properties (tension, compression etc.) of a given test specimen by exerting tensile, compressive or transverse stresses. The machine has been named so because of the wide range of tests it can perform over different kind of materials. Different tests like peel test, flexural test, tension test, bend test, friction test, spring test etc. can be performed with the help of UTM.

The UTM is a versatile and valuable piece of testing equipment that can evaluate materials properties such as tensile strength, elasticity, compression, yield strength, elastic and plastic deformation, bend compression, and strain hardening. Different models of Universal Testing Machines have different load capacities, some as low as 5kN and others as high as 2,000kN.

Tests can also be performed in controlled environmental conditions. This is achieved by placing the Universal Testing Machine into an environmental room or chamber. For example, metals testing can be conducted at extreme temperatures: from -196°C (-321°F) to over 1000°C (1800°F).

A universal testing machine consists of two main parts :

• Loading Unit
• Control Unit

The arrangement of the test specimen and the exertion of the load is held in the loading unit. The variations in the application of the load and the corresponding test result are obtained from the control unit.

In the figure-2, the left unit with table and crosshead form the loading unit. The right unit with a load indicator arrangement is the control unit.

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