The Brinell hardness test is an indentation hardness test that can provide useful information about metallic materials. This information may correlate to tensile strength, wear resistance, ductility, or other physical characteristics of metallic materials, and may be useful in quality control and selection of materials.

Brinell hardness tests are considered satisfactory for acceptance testing of commercial shipments, and have been used extensively in industry for this purpose.

Brinell hardness testing at a specific location on a part may not represent the physical characteristics of the whole part or end product.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the Brinell hardness of metallic materials by the Brinell indentation hardness principle. This standard provides the requirements for a Brinell testing machine and the procedures for performing Brinell hardness tests.

1.2 This standard includes additional requirements in four annexes: