Background <p>Accurate characterization of materials under intermediate strain rates (1 to 100&#xa0;s⁻¹) remains a challenge due to complex dynamic effects such as inertial loading, ringing, apparatus compliance, and strain localization. These issues hinder the development of reliable and repeatable tensile testing methods for this critical strain rate regime.</p> Objective <p>This study aims to address these limitations by introducing a novel experimental approach that enables high-fidelity tensile testing of both ductile and brittle materials within the defined intermediate strain rate range.</p> Methods <p>A symmetric, double-acting drop-weight impact apparatus was designed to implement pure-tensile loading without the need for complex control systems or compensators. The system was validated using aluminum 6061-T6 specimens at two distinct intermediate strain rates and benchmarked against existing literature. The design emphasizes simplicity, cost-efficiency, and accuracy, offering a viable alternative to conventional systems.</p> Results <p>The apparatus successfully captured the complete tensile response, including elastic and post-yield behavior, without requiring signal filtration due to the absence of ringing. Strain measurements showed uniform distribution along the gage length, confirming mechanical symmetry and load balance. Test results revealed an explicit strain-rate dependency in yield and ultimate strength, although strain-to-failure values were inconsistent across the strain-rate range.</p> Conclusions <p>This novel test fixture offers a reliable and reproducible method for intermediate strain rate tensile testing, surpassing conventional systems in both accuracy and robustness. It lays the foundation for developing a comprehensive experimental database of crash-relevant materials, thereby enhancing testing capabilities for automotive and structural applications.</p>