Verkürztest

Verkürztest is a term used in some German-language sources to denote a test that aims to determine the shortening or reduction in length of a component, material, or process under defined conditions. There is no single universally standardized definition for verkürztest, and the exact meaning varies by field. In general, the concept refers to measuring how much something becomes shorter when subjected to specified influences such as mechanical load, temperature, humidity, or processing steps.

Applications and domains vary. In materials and mechanical testing, a verkürztest may refer to assessing dimensional shrinkage of a specimen during curing, under load, or after exposure to environmental conditions. In textiles, polymers, or composites, it can describe shortening caused by washing, heating, or aging. In engineering contexts, the test helps evaluate dimensional stability and the performance implications of shortening in components or assemblies. The term is less common in non-technical domains, where similar ideas are described with more specific terminology such as shrinkage, deflection, or dimensional change.

Methodologically, a typical verkürztest involves establishing a baseline length, subjecting the specimen to a defined test condition, and measuring the resulting length to determine shortening. Measurements are often repeated to improve accuracy, and results are expressed as an absolute change or as a percentage of the original length. Factors such as geometry, material behavior, environmental conditions, and test duration influence outcomes, and where standardized standards exist, they should be followed to enable comparability.

Because the term is not uniformly standardized, readers are advised to consult field-specific standards or glossaries for precise definitions and procedures in a given context. See also shrinkage test, dimensional stability, and thermal expansion.