Mechanical Properties Testing

Digital Compression test machine

ELE international compression tester has a load capacity of 250,000 lbf (1,112 kN). The ram displacement available is 3” (76 mm). It has a digital output screen connected to it which can show the data as the test is running, and later data can be extracted on completion of the test.

SBEL compression load frame

SBEL compression load frame has a load capacity of 100,000 lbf (489 kN). The ram displacement available is 4” (100 mm). It is controlled using a GCTS SCON – 1400 Digital servo controller and acquisition system.

INSTRON 1332 load frame

The INSTRON 1332 is a 55,000 lbf (250 kN) capacity machine with the ability to run both compression and tension. The actuator has a displacement range of 10” (254mm). The machine is controlled using a MTSFLEXTEST 60 digital servo controller and acquisition software. The grips are hydraulic and have interchangeable components for testing different sample sizes.

MTS 810 Load frame

MTS 810hasa capacity to run both compression and tension tests, with a load capacity of 20,000 lbf (90kN) and 10” (254mm) stroke. There are interchangeable hydraulic grips for testing different sample sizes in tension. There are also fixtures to be able to run 3-point and 4-point beam tests and unconfined compressive strength tests.

MTS high speed load frame

MTS high speed load frame can run both compression and tension tests. This load frame can go up to a max actuator speed of 500 inches/second and has a load capacity of 55,000 lbf (250 kN) and 10” (254mm)actuator stroke. This is controlled by using MTS Flextest acquisition/control software.

Drop test frame

Impact test set-up based on a free-fall drop of an instrumented hammer. The drop heights range from 1 to 200 cm and can be controlled by means of an electronic hoist and release mechanism. An anti-rebound system consisting of a pneumatic brake system triggered by a contact-type switch is used to stop the hammer after the duration of impact is completed. The experimental set-up consists of free weight, frictionless bearings along the drop columns, load cell, connection plate, accelerometers, and a set of threaded rods. The hammer releases from a predetermined drop height by means of a Lansmont-manufactured electronic brake release mechanism.

Torsion test machine

ADMET torsion testing machine has a capacity of 885lb-in (100 Nm) and can run at a max speed of 20RPM. It has grips that can be adjusted to run from 0.047 to 5 in (1.19 to 125 mm) diameter samples.TheGaugeSafe Live data acquisition system allows one to view the real-time XY curves as the test is running and create, view, and print test reports from the test data.

Standard environmental system

This is a controlled test chamber to maintain the required temperature and can be used with different test frames. The size of the chamber is 20” x 11” x 14” (508 mm x 279 mm x 356 mm) and has a working range of – 25 °F to 200 °F ( – 32 °C to 93 °C), with a resolution of 1 °F (0.56 °C).

Large Scale Flexural load frame

This test frame is set-up to run flexural testing on larger specimens and can accommodate a specimen up to 120” (300cm) in width, 48” (120cm) deep, and 30” (76cm) tall. The axial load capacity of the frame is 400,000 lbf (1760 kN). The system is controlled through a Labview data acquisition program.

Largescale compression load frame

This test frame is set-up to run compression testing on larger specimens and can accommodate a specimen up to 66” (168cm) tall,20” (50cm) wide, and 120” (300cm) long. The axial load capacity of the frame is 800,000 lbf (3560 kN). The system is controlled through a Labview data acquisition program.

Creep Test load frames

6 individual creep test assemblies with individual load capacities of 20,000 lbf (89 kN), that can accommodate beam specimens up to 6”x6”x24” (15cm x 15 cm x 60 cm). The data is obtained through the Labview data acquisition program.

Low force compression/tension/torsion

This system is able to run tension, compression, and torsion tests. The system is capable of detecting loads as low as 0.001 lb (0.5 g) in tension and compression. This has a 6” (15cm) stroke. The data acquisition is controlled through Labview data acquisition program.

Low force MTS Exceed Test system

This is a setup capable of performing both compression and tension test. It has a load capacity of 1125 lbf(5 kN), with a 30” (76cm) stroke range. Fixtures to run bending test are also available. The system is controlled with MTS digital control and acquisition software.

Digital Image Correlation

The digital image correlation setup is from Correlated Solution Inc., and VIC3D software is used to calculate the 3D displacements and strain tensor fields. This system can be used with all different test frames to obtain strain profiles on test specimens. There are high-speed as well as low-speed camera setups. The high-speed setup consists of two Photron FASTCAM Nova S6 800K – M3, 16 GB cameras with the capability of 6400 fps at 1024 x 1024 resolution. The low-speed setup consists of 4, point grey grasshopper 5 megapixel, cameras.