The proposed standard offers industry-wide guidelines for testing metal hardness with shear pins.
Jul 30, 2025
ASTM International is developing a proposed standard (WK89813) that will create a process for testing metal hardness using shear pins.
WK89813 is being developed by the mechanical and chemical testing and processing methods of steel products and processes subcommittee (A01.13), part of the steel, stainless steel and related alloys committee (A01).
According to ASTM member Jim Knight, the industry currently uses shear pins as a surrogate for Brinell hardness testing, providing a standardized way to conduct those tests. This test method is an estimate of Brinell hardness and must not be construed as a replacement for Brinell testing as described in the E10 test method.
“There is no existing standard for using shear pins. This is why we are doing this; to create uniformity in testing using shear pins,” says Knight, chief executive officer at King Tester Corporation.
ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.
September / October 2025
