How to Perform a Shear Test to ISO 4587
Written by Meredith Bernstein
- Adhesives
- Tension
- ISO 4587
This standard is used to test the shear strength of cured bonds when adhesives are applied to materials such as metals, plastics, wood, or composites. This is a critical characteristic of any adhesive, as they can exhibit unique shear properties. Manufacturers use this test method to investigate the shear properties of bonded rigid assemblies where the force applied is parallel to the bonded area and the length of the specimen. Stress is applied to the specimens at a rate of 8.3 to 9.8 MPa per minute and the breaking load and shear strength are reported.
Materials Testing SystemTesting to ISO 4587 requires a universal testing machine. System capacity will depend on the strength of the adhesive, however most tests to this standard will fall in the capacity range between 1 kN and 5 kN, appropriate for a frame such as Instron's 34SC or 68SC. If the adhesive requires a higher capacity system, Instron’s dual column table model frames are available up to 50 kN.

ISO 4587 Test Setup
1. Instron 6800
2. Bluehill Universal Dashboard (2490-696)
3. 2580 Series Load Cell
4. 5 kN Pneumatic Side-Action Grips (2712-045)
Pneumatic side action grips and advanced side action grips are optimal choices for testing to ISO 4587. Both types of grips are adjustable in order to offset the jaw faces and ensure that the lap joint remains centered in the grips. They both feature quick-change jaw faces that can be easily changed to accommodate different materials.
- ISO 4587 is performed on rigid specimens bonded via a lap joint, which causes the two ends of the specimen to be offset from the vertical load line of the test. It is critical that the gripping solution account for this overlap with offset jaw faces in order to ensure a true shear force application.
- The standard requires reporting the breaking force or strength, however, it is important to remember that the shear strength is calculated by dividing the breaking force by the adhesive bond area.
6800 Series Premier Testing Systems Brochure
Instron 6800 Series Universal Testing Systems provide unparalleled accuracy and reliability. Built on a patent-pending Operator Protect system architecture with an all-new Smart-Close Air Kit and Collision Mitigation features, the 6800 Series makes materials testing simpler, smarter, and safer than ever before.
3400 Series - Affordable Testing Solutions
Instron 3400 Series Universal Testing Systems for Tensile, Compression, Bend, and other material property tests.
Bluehill Universal Brochure
Bluehill Universal Software is built from the ground-up for touch interaction and an intuitive user experience. Discover simpler and smarter testing with features such as pre-loaded test methods, QuickTest in seconds, enhanced data exporting: and Instron Connect – a new feature that provides a direct communication link to Service. Users of previous versions of software such as Bluehill 2 and Bluehill 3 can easily upgrade to the newest version of Bluehill.
2712-04X Series Pneumatic Side-Action Grips
Pneumatic side-action grips offer a versatile gripping solution for a wide range of materials. Rated capacities between 1 and 10 kN.
2710 Series Screw Side Action Grips
Screw side action grips provide a simple and effective method for holding test specimens and can be used in a wide range of applications.