Abstract
In the present study, a new method of tensile test for small and/or thin specimens was proposed where tensile force was generated in the specimen by the thermal stress between the specimen and the loading plate. The basic mechanism of the method is as follows. Thin notched plate specimen was set on the loading plate and both ends of the specimen were adhered to the loading plate with quick-drying glue. As the loading plate has much higher linear expansion coefficient than the specimen, tensile stress was generated in the specimen with simultaneous heating of the specimen and the loading plate. A strain gauge was also glued on the loading plate in order to evaluate the load acting on the specimen. As all devices can be set on the stage of a microscope, in-situ observation of the plate specimen during tension was realized.
