Through thickness tensile test or ‘Z’ direction tensile test is performed to evaluate mechanical properties mostly in steel. The test involves applying tensile forces on a test specimen whose axis is perpendicular to the rolled surfaces of steel plate. The primary purpose of the test is to measure resistance to lamellar tearing by determining reduction of area and ultimate tensile strength in ‘Z’ direction.

EN 10164, ASTM A770, AS 3678, AS 1391 are some of the common standards used to perform test.