Mechanical Testing

Mechanical testing load frames and impacts testers are utilized frequently for both research capabilities, classroom labs, and senior projects.

 

Tension testing, Compression testing, 3- or 4- point bend testing

Each of the instruments listed below may be capable of conducting tension, compression, or 3-/4-point bend experiments, depending on the available fixtures.

 

Instron 34TM Test Machine (129 Burke)

This load frame has a capacity of 30 kN. Available fixture include tension grips, scissor tension grips appropriate for elastomeric materials, compression platens, and a 3-point bend fixture. Additionally, this system is equipped with a video extensometer for measuring strain on the specimen as well as a moderate temperature chamber with temperature capabilities ranging from -70 C to 300 °C.

 

Instron Universal Test Machine – Instron 1123 440R (129 Burke)

This load frame is equipped with tension and compression platens. It is primarily utilized for class lab or senior projects.

 

Tinius Olsen Universal Test Machine – 25ST (129 Burke), Tinius Olsen 10,0000 Universal Tester (118 Burke), Tinius Olsen 60,000 Universal Tester (124 Burke)

The Tinius Olsen load frames vary in capacity and are primarily utilized for class labs. These load frames have tensile grips and contact extensometers.

 

 

MTS 810 Load frame (120 AMIC), Tinius Olsen 120,000 Universal Tester Ram with Hydraulic Unit (120 AMIC)

The MTS 810 load frame and Tinius Olsen hydraulic system are servo-hydraulic systems and therefore are capable of both static and dynamic testing (fatigue testing). These systems are equipped with blast shields due to their allowable capacities as well. A furnace is available on the MTS 810 system.

 

 

Impact testing

Impact testing provides insight into the specimen or material behavior on an extremely fast time scale. The available pendulum and vertical drop impact testers at Behrend include: TMI Ray-Ran Impact tester, Gardco Vertical Drop Impact tester, and Tinius Olsen Impact Machine. For preparing specimens for these experiments, available equipment is the TMI Notching Cutter. Recently added is the Instron 9450, a drop tower impact tester that is equipped with a high speed camera system.

TMI Ray-Ran Impact tester	Gardco Vertical Drop Impact tester
Tinius Olsen Impact Machine	TMI Notching Cutter

Instron 9540 Drop Tower Impact Tester with High Speed Camera system

The Instron 9450 drop tower impact tester is a high impact system where the drop weight and impact velocity can be changed to set the impact energy. The maximum speed is 24 m/s. There is an adjustable height stand for working with samples of different sizes. Also available are multiple weights and tups to accommodate different materials and impact conditions, like a Charpy insert for metallic materials. The thermostatic chamber can be moved in, for conducting experiments at non-ambient temperatures between -70 to 150 °C or out to accommodate very large samples.
The high speed camera system is instrumented to work with the Instron 9450 system and has a frame rate of 6,400 fps at a 1 Megapixel resolution. When the resolution is decreased, the frame rate can be increased to 900,000 fps.

Instron 9450 drop tower impact system

 

Digital Image Correlation

Behrend has a mobile Correlated Solutions VIC-2D digital image correlation (DIC) system which can work with any load frame mentioned above, as long as the sample surface can be seen during the entirety of the experiment. DIC is a technique which enables the full-field surface deformation of the sample to be tracked during the experiment, such that post-experiment, the surface strain can be determined at each location on the sample. This technique is highly useful for some special materials (i.e. shape memory alloys), for which strain localization or localized deformation in anticipated.

 

Sample Specifications

Samples should be based on dimensions suggested by ASTM standards, which are specific to test type (tension, compression, etc.) and material. Refer to the ASTM standards to determine the specimen geometry and dimensions for your specific mechanical test.

 

Advancing Research

Access to mechanical load frames, impact testers, and digital image correlation systems advance research and understanding for Behrend faculty and students. Some examples of these mechanical instruments in use include:

• Dr. Paul Lynch and students utilized the Tinius Olsen 120,000 Universal Tester for a study of electrically-assisted manufactured steels. This was a sponsored research project, sponsored by SKF. Three different types of bearing steels were characterized: M50, M50-NiL, and Pyrowear P-675. The setup included a hookup to a welding power supply and insulation sheets (Haysite). The samples tended to flash and eventually soften under the applied current density.

Sample loaded into the Tinius Olsen 120 kip load frame

Mechanical test sample after a high current density was applied.

This work was written in the following journal article: Lang, C. D., Hasbrouck, C. R., Hankey, A. S., Lynch, P. C., Allison, B. D., & Roth, J. T. (2020). Electrically-Assisted Manufacturing for Reduction in Forging Forces of Bearing Steels. Procedia Manufacturing, 48, 349-357.

 

Interested in using the any of the many mechanical instruments or having Behrend staff run samples on these instruments for you? Please complete our contact page.