ISO 16630:2017 defines a hole expanding test used to determine the hole expansion ratio (HER) for metallic sheet and strip. It is commonly used to evaluate edge formability for flange forming operations where hole expansion and edge cracking are a concern.
If you need help mapping ISO 16630 to your material thickness, specimen size, or forming use-case, talk with our team about practical setup considerations before you lock in a test plan.
ISO 16630:2017 — Metallic materials — Sheet and strip — Hole expanding test
ISO 16630 is a standardized laboratory method for determining hole expansion ratio in metallic sheet and strip. In practice, it is often referenced in forming and material-qualification workflows where edge cracking risk must be compared across materials, processing routes, or suppliers.
This document is a test method focused on hole expansion ratio rather than a general forming “specification.” The detailed geometry, acceptance criteria, and reporting requirements depend on the exact edition cited in your purchase order or internal test procedure.
Quick Definition
ISO 16630 (Hole Expanding Test): A method to determine the hole expansion ratio (HER) for metallic sheet and strip by expanding a prepared hole until cracking, then expressing the change in hole size as a ratio.
What This Standard Covers
ISO 16630 describes how to determine the hole expansion ratio in metallic sheets and strips within a specified thickness range and minimum specimen width. The method is normally applied to sheet metal and is used to assess suitability for forming flanges.
What it does not do: It does not, by itself, define forming-process limits for a specific part design. The standard provides a controlled way to generate an HER value that can be used for material comparison, process studies, and supplier qualification.
Why This Standard Matters in Testing
Hole expansion testing is commonly used when conventional tensile properties do not fully predict edge-crack behavior in stamped or formed components. A repeatable HER method helps teams compare edge performance across coil lots, heat-to-heat variation, edge-preparation methods, and forming-oriented material grades.
Because the result is sensitive to specimen preparation and the expansion setup, consistent tooling alignment, force control, and measurement practice are important for meaningful comparisons across labs or over time.
Common Materials, Product Types, or Applications Covered
ISO 16630 applies to metallic sheet and strip used in formed products where edge stretching occurs. It is often associated with sheet metal forming and flange-forming evaluations.
Common applications: Stamped and formed sheet-metal parts, flange-forming operations, and material approval programs where edge formability needs to be screened or benchmarked.
Common Test or Verification Workflow
Most ISO 16630 workflows follow a controlled sequence: a hole is prepared in a sheet/strip specimen, the hole is expanded under a defined tool/fixture arrangement, the onset of cracking is used as the endpoint, and the change in hole size is used to calculate the hole expansion ratio.
Typical outputs: Hole expansion ratio (HER) and the associated specimen/test conditions recorded as required by the standard or your internal procedure.
Equipment Commonly Used for This Standard
ISO 16630 is usually implemented with a controlled-force/controlled-displacement loading system that can drive an expanding tool through the prepared hole while the specimen is supported in a repeatable fixture.
Common equipment: Universal testing machines or press-based test frames (with appropriate force capacity), a hole expansion fixture/tooling set (specimen support and expanding punch/tool), and a measurement approach for initial and final hole size (for example, calibrated optical or mechanical measurement methods suited to your lab practice).
When you are comparing fixture styles, force capacity, or measurement approaches for consistent HER results, you can request pricing for an ISO 16630-capable configuration matched to your specimen thickness range and throughput needs.
How to Read This Designation or Revision
ISO 16630:2017 identifies the ISO document number (16630) and the publication year (2017). Test setup details and reporting requirements can change between editions, so procurement documents and quality plans should cite the exact year/version being used.
Revision sensitivity: Hole expansion results are strongly method-dependent; aligning on the same cited edition (and aligned specimen preparation rules) matters when comparing HER values across suppliers or laboratories.
Related Standards, Methods, or Frameworks
ISO 16630 is typically used alongside forming-focused material characterization and internal forming-validation methods. Where programs require correlation to production outcomes, HER data is often interpreted together with additional material test data and forming observations for the specific part geometry.
Practical note: If a customer, OEM, or internal specification references hole expansion testing, confirm whether it calls ISO 16630 directly, a national adoption, or a modified in-house method based on ISO 16630.
Talk with our team about ISO 16630 setup and quoting
If you are standardizing ISO 16630 across sites or qualifying a new material supplier, contact our team to discuss fixture approach, force capacity, and measurement workflow so the system matches the edition you need to run.