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.
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.
Textiles, yarn, thread, fabrics, wool, cotton, and other animal and plant-derived fibers are commonly tested to ensure product quality by assessing the performance of materials and making sure they are acceptable towards proper end-use. This blog post will cover certain mechanical testing methods to test fabric and go over the testing standards.
Full blog post, including the recommended equipment, can be found here.
Biomechanics & Biomechanical Testing
Full blog post can be found here.
Key concepts for medical device design include biomechanics, biocompatibility, and biofunctionality. This post will go over the mechanics of an exemplar biological tissue, the bone, and mechanical testing of biomaterials that are used in developing medical devices and equipment.
While it is easy to imagine why bend testing needs to be performed on rigid materials like plastics (ASTM D790) and concrete (ASTM C1609), in reality bend test applications are common in a variety of industries. Universal testing machines equipped with bend fixtures are used to calculate flexural modulus, flexural strength, yield point, and more.
High or low temperature testing is made feasible by adding an environmental chamber to a universal testing machine (UTM). Environmental chambers come with their own temperature controller and, depending on the system’s compatibility, the temperature settings and recordings may be controlled with the UTM’s controller or software.
How do different specimen geometries affect tensile test results?
ADMET CEO and Chief Engineer Richard Gedney's article on fatigue testing applications was published on the Quality Magazine August 2017 issue.
The article starts with brief descriptions of the four stages of metal fatigue:
Stage 1: Crack Initiation
Stage 2: : Slip Band or Stage 1 Crack Growth
Stage 3: Stage II Crack Growth
Stage 4: Ductile Failure
A Universal Testing Machine Retrofit is a system upgrade in which the capabilities and functionality of an outdated and/or broken universal testing machine are improved by pairing them with advanced indicators and replacement components. A system retrofit is commonly performed on but not limited to tensile testing systems, compression testing systems, torsion testing systems, and bend testing systems. Universal testing systems manufactured by Instron, Satec, MTS, Tinius Olsen, Baldwin, Forney, and others are all capable of being upgraded by ADMET’s retrofit service.