What is an appropriate test to determine the tensile strength of unidentified stock steel plate?

The appropriate test for determining the tensile strength of unidentified stock steel plate is the Reduced-Section Tension Test. This test involves taking a specimen with a reduced cross-sectional area, which allows for the measurement of the material's ability to withstand tension until failure. It provides direct and accurate measurements of tensile properties, such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation.

Conducting a tensile test on a reduced-section specimen allows for a representative evaluation of the steel's characteristics, as it is essential to know how the material will perform under load. This testing method is fundamental in metallurgical assessments and quality control processes in manufacturing.

Other testing methods, while useful in their own right, do not provide the same direct measurement of tensile strength. An impact test evaluates the ductility and toughness of a material in response to impact loads but does not measure tensile strength. A hardness test assesses the resistance to indentation but does not correlate directly to tensile strength. The bend test determines the material's ductility and flexibility rather than tensile strength. Therefore, the Reduced-Section Tension Test is the most suitable and informative method for this particular assessment.