The tearing strength of fabrics, papers, plastic films, or other similar materials in sheet form is determined by measurement of work done in tearing through a fixed length of the test specimen using the Elmendorf tear tester. The GLOBE Elmendorf Tear Tester consists of a brass sector pendulum pivoted on low-friction ball bearings over a vertical bracket fixed on a rigid metallic base. The test specimen, in shape of a rectangle, is held between two clamps, one of which is mounted on the pendulum and the other is mounted on the vertical bracket. The clamps are mounted in such a manner that their holding faces are aligned with each other when the pendulum is locked in its raised position. The pendulum is released by lifting a release lever. This action causes the pendulum to fall down under its weight and to tear the test specimen while doing so. The energy absorbed during tearing is indicated on a scale fitted on the pendulum by a low friction pointer pivoted on the axis of the pendulum.

IS 6489 ­ 1971

Method for Determination of Tear Strength of Woven

Scale B

Textile Fabrics by Elmendorf Tester

ASTM D 689 - 1996

Test for Internal Tearing Resistance of Paper

ASTM D 1424 - 1996

Tear Resistance of Woven Fabrics by Falling Pendulum (Elmendorf) Apparatus

ASTM D 1922 - 1994

Propagation Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method

Range of force measurement

N/A