Deniz Yalcin's blog

Below is a blog post based on equipment that we have built for testing solid ice samples. We designed an ADMET biaxial testing system (eXpert 8600 series) in collaboration with the Rock and Ice Deformation Laboratory (RIDL) at Woods Hole Oceanograhic Institution (WHOI). 

Test Application

Structural Engineering Reports are insightful reports prepared by a professional engineer that check for potential damages by evaluating property structures and substructures, identify the root cause of damage, and provide recommendations on foundation repairs. 

Studying fatigue properties of small specimens can be challenging, yet is needed for research purposes as well as for product and verification testing in industries like the medical device and additive manufacturing.

Fatigue testing allows manufacturers and researchers to get a critical understanding of how a material or component will perform in real-world loading scenarios over the course of time. Common fatigue testing definitions and keywords include:

There are two hydraulic universal testing machine designs. The first uses a single sided ram to apply force and requires gravity for the piston to return home. This type of hydraulic testing machine is the most common and is used for static tests only. A schematic of a ram based hydraulic tester is shown in Figure 1. The second type of hydraulic machine uses a dual acting piston. The dual acting piston design provides control in both the up and down direction and is commonly used for fatigue testing applications.

This blog post covers the description and determination of Young’s modulus, tangent modulus, and chord modulus. These properties, commonly used for product and material specification, can be calculated by subjecting a specimen to uniaxial force, measuring its stress and strain properties, and generating a stress-strain curve. The accuracy of the modulus determination depends on the precision of the load and strain measurements.

Shear testing produces shear property data for material specifications, research and development, quality assurance, and structural design and analysis. Shear properties can be calculated via different test types including tension, flexion, and compression as well as different test set ups such as the lap shear method, V-notched rail method, short beam method, and more. Click here for the original blog post.

Definitions

Common measurements obtained from a shear test include:

Sheet metal forming operations consist of simple bending, to stretching to deep drawing of complex parts. The mechanical properties of the sheet material greatly influence its formability, which is a measure of the amount of deformation the material can withstand prior to fracture. This blog post covers important definitions determining sheet metal characteristics, the test methods, and the equipment used to quantify them.

Bridge failures underscore the importance of rigorous material testing. The collapse of the incomplete pedestrian bridge at Florida International University on March 2018 is an example where design errors led to growing cracks as described by OSHA.

Although material failure is not the sole reason for bridge failures, it is a crucial step for selecting the right materials, bridge design analysis, and construction testing.

In our industry, equipment, including universal testing machines and grips and fixtures, are categorized by the maximum force capacity. We have generated an automatic load calculator to help calculate the required forces necessary to test a certain type of material. The calculator can be found here:  https://www.admet.com/calculators/load-calculator/

To use the calculator:

1- Select the specimen geometry. Options include: rectangular, round, tubular, by area.

In the aerospace industry, testing is critical in successful product development and implementation. Mechanical testing of materials and products used in aerospace applications is governed by strict standards and often require accreditation. The type of testing performed includes tensile, compressive, flexural, fatigue testing, and more.

Concrete is one of the most widely used materials around the world. The construction industry is often involved in a wide array of testing which requires a variety of testing equipment. In addition to simple compression testing, testing standards such as ASTM C39, ASTM C109, ASTM C469, ASTM C1609 are among the test methods that can be followed to measure the mechanical properties of a concrete specimen. This blog post covers the mechanical testing of concrete in lab environments, its automation, and ways of achieving it.

Mechanical Testing of Concrete

Aesthetics and material durability are closely related in consumer-facing industries such as the automotive industry. In addition to designing an aesthetically pleasing interior environment, developers aim to create an interior with durable components to stand up to long-term use. This blog post covers the different mechanical tests used to ensure automotive interior parts pass the test for aesthetics, quality, safety, and durability.