The Applied Technical Services Family of Companies (ATS FoC) provides instrumented indentation system (I2S) testing to measure key tensile properties of buried pipe in real time. I2S automatically applies the load, captures indentation-deflection data, and delivers testing results within 20 to 30 seconds. This quick and convenient testing method assesses aging effects without removing large samples from service.
What is I2S Testing Used For?
Using a shallow surface indentation, I2S testing provides valuable material property data without taking critical assets out of service. I2S can be used to:
- Measure yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and uniaxial yield stress (YS)
- Determine ductility and Brinell hardness (BHW)
- Assess aging infrastructures
- Evaluate base metals, welds, and heat-affected zones (HAZ)
- Support asset integrity and fitness-for-service programs
What ASTM Standards are Commonly Associated with I2S Testing?
In order to meet strict regulatory and compliance requirements, I2S testing follows ASTM standards and provides data comparable to traditional mechanical testing methods, including:
- ASTM E2546: Instrumented Indentation Testing
- ASTM E8/E8M: Uniaxial Tensile Measurements
- ASTM E10: Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
I2S Applications Across Critical Industries
Engineers across safety-critical industries use I2S testing to quickly evaluate material properties. Common applications include:
- Pipeline integrity assessments for aging, undocumented, and in-service pipelines.
- Damage evaluations for structures and components affected by events such as railroad tank car collisions, bridge impacts, or other localized damage.
- Steel plate manufacturing, where real-time tensile property measurements help manufacturers optimize processing and cutting parameters for each plate.
- Asset life and fitness-for-service evaluations for critical infrastructure, pressure vessels, and industrial equipment.
Trusted Results for Critical Decisions
For nearly 60 years, ATS and our family of companies have supported clients with testing, inspection, certification, and calibration services, enabling informed decisions about critical assets. Our trained and certified experts work on-site or in our A2LA ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited and ISO 9001:2015-registered quality assurance laboratories, transforming inspection data into actionable insights that protect your operations and assets. Since partnering with SGS in 2026, we have expanded our capabilities to serve a broader range of industries worldwide.
Contact Us
If your organization requires instrumented indentation system (I2S) testing services for your next project, contact ATS by submitting a web request form or calling us at +1 (888)-287-5227 to speak with one of our experts today.
