Structural Testing

Failure and proof testing

Failure and proof loading of specimens to 13 MN (3,000,000 lb) in either tension or compression is a principal use of the Southwark-Emery universal testing machine. Multi-channel data-acquisition equipment is available. Smaller Riehle universal testing machines are also used.

Compression specimens are placed between the 0.9 m (3 ft)-diameter platen and the 3.6 x 2.1 m (12 x 7 ft) testingmachine floor. Specimen heights up to 8 m (25 ft) can be accommodated. Shown here is a compression test of a bolted connection between two heavysection I-beams.

The compression region can also be used to proof-load large crane hooks by means of an inverted loading device. Total stroke of the loading ram is 0.9 m (3 ft).

Tension specimens are gripped in either V-grips or flat-faced grips in the upper and lower crossheads. Round specimens 125–375 mm (5–15 in.) in diameter, or flat specimens 100–200 mm (4–8 in.) thick and up to 300 mm (12 in.) wide can be accommodated. Adapters can be used to test a wide variety of other AE Mechanical Testing—Structural testing components, such as structural tubing (shown here), oilwell casing, largediameter wire rope, tension links, and grain-bin panels. Total specimen lengths up to 25 ft can be accepted.

Instrumented testing

Strain-gage, displacement, and temperature measurements can be combined with force measurements to determine overall structural response. A Vishay Precision Group System 5000 data-acquisition system with 40 straingage or Wheatstone-bridge transducer channels, 10 high-input channels, and 5 thermocouple channels is available. Both proof tests and failure tests can be handled to the full 13 MN (3,000,000 lb) capacity of the machine in either tension or compression.

Smaller-scale testing

The AE Mechanical Testing laboratory staff also maintains two smaller universal testing machines—a Riehle 900 kN (200 kip) and a Riehle 530 kN (120 kip)—both of which are NISTtraceable.

Specimen handling

A 3600 kg (8000 lb) capacity Hyster forklift is available for shipping, receiving, and specimen placement. A smaller forklift is also available. In addition, the crane bay is equipped with a 9000 kg (10 ton) overhead crane, and the large testing machine has a 4 tonne (4.4 ton) center hoist for tensile specimen placement.