---
type: "WebPage"
title: "Measurement of Poisson’s ratio in the laboratory"
description: "As a manufacturer, you want to measure the Poisson's ratio of your materials. What is the Poisson ratio? In materials mechanics, the Poisson's ratio (noted v) is used to measure the contraction of the material perpendicular to the direction of..."
resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-material-testing/measurement-of-poissons-ratio-in-the-laboratory/"
tags: ["EN", "pll_6578427660621"]
timestamp: "2025-12-31T08:33:52Z"
published: "2024-08-29T12:20:48Z"
language: "en"
author: "bwa"
---

# Measurement of Poisson’s ratio in the laboratory

## As a manufacturer, you want to measure the Poisson's ratio of your materials.

### What is the Poisson ratio?

In materials mechanics, the Poisson’s ratio (noted v) is used to measure the contraction of the material perpendicular to the direction of the applied stress. To measure the Poisson’s ratio, the laboratory applies a force to the material to be analysed and measures the elongation in the direction of the force as well as the change in dimension perpendicular to this force. The ratio of these two measurements determines the Poisson’s ratio. It is necessarily between -1 and 0.5, but generally positive.

 ![essai de choc charpy](https://filab.fr/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/coefficient-de-poisson.png)
### Why measure the Poisson's ratio?

Measuring the Poisson’s ratio is important for the design of new materials. It allows us to :

  Predicting and understanding [deformation](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-failures/analysis-of-a-deformation-of-materials-in-laboratory.md) More realistic deformation simulations Preventing possible [material failure](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/rd/rd-support/support-from-a-laboratory-in-the-choice-of-your-raw-materials/) Predicting the lifespan of a material Choosing a material 
## The FILAB laboratory helps manufacturers measure Poisson's ratio

### Why choose FILAB for your Poisson's ratio measurements?

FILAB’s [analytical facilities](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources.md) offer a range of techniques to meet your needs for material characterisation and Poisson’s ratio measurements. In addition, the laboratory invests heavily each year in its analytical equipment in order tocontinue to have high-performance technical resources. 

## our mechanical analyses

[Tensile tests](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/mechanical-laboratory-test/tensile-test-materials-laboratory.md)

[Bending tests](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/mechanical-laboratory-test/laboratory-bending-tests.md)

Vibration frequency

Vibration tests

[X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/x-ray-crystallography-laboratory-xrd.md)

[Measurement of Young's modulus](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-analysis-composite-material/youngs-modulus-measurement.md)