Structural Properties Equipment
Structural properties equipment will provide strength and various mechanical constants for materials. Material properties and component capabilities can also be measured via dynamic testing.
MTS Insight II uniaxial extension machine
An MTS Insight II screw-driven material testing machine in Dr. Qi’s laboratory. This machine is dedicated for testing soft materials with environmental control. The machine is equipped with a standard 1kN load cell and a customer-ordered 2N load cell. In addition, this machine has a mini-bath which provides temperature control over the range from 0?C to 40?C. The computer software TestWorks 4 Creator Product Package provides extensive capability to setup, define, modify, and analyze material tests.
Contact: Prof. Jerry Qi, qih@colorado.edu
MTS Insight 10 uniaxial extension machine
An MTS Insight 10 screw-driven material testing machine in Dr. Qi’s laboratory. This machine is dedicated to test soft materials and is equipped with a standard 10kN load cell, a mechanical extensometer (MTS 632.24F-50, 100% strain, temperature range -85°C-150°C), a laser extensometer, (LE-05, Electronic Instrument Research, Irwin, PA), and a dedicated thermal chamber (Thermcraft, Winston-Salem, NC). The computer software TestWorks 4 Creator Product Package provides extensive capability to setup, define, modify, and analyze material tests.
Contact: Prof. Jerry Qi, qih@colorado.edu
MTS minibionx axial/torsional hydrauic testing machine
An MTS Minibionx axial/torsional hydrauic testing machine in Dr Qi’s laboratory. This machine provides the bi-axial testing capability of soft materials. It is equipped with an axial/torsional combined load cell with 10kN axial and 2.5kNm torsional load capacities and a dedicated thermal chamber (Thermcraft, Winston-Salem, NC) for polymer testing at different temperatures.
Contact: Prof. Jerry Qi, qih@colorado.edu
Planary bi-axial testing machine
An in-house built planary bi-axial testing machine for testing soft materials in Dr Qi’s laboratory. This machine is equipped with two 10N load cell. It also has a mini-bath which provides temperature control over the range from 0°C to 90°C.
Contact: Prof. Jerry Qi, qih@colorado.edu
Micromechanical Tester
Micromechanical Tester for microscale mechanical deformation, fracture, and fatigue tests with a resolution of 0.1 gf and displacements with a resolution of 28 nm in the Experimental Micromechanics Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The in-plane displacements and strains are measured using digital image correlation. The out-of-plane deformation is measured using a combination of instrumented indentation and interferometer.
Contact: Prof. Jerry Qi, qih@colorado.edu
2 Instron tensile and compression testers
Table Model Systems are ideal for tests requiring less than 50 kN force and where better alignment or a larger test space are required. Twin column design. These systems can be fitted with a wide range of grips and fixtures for tension, compression, bending and component testing. Additional accessories include extensometers for strain measurement and environmental chambers for high or low temperature tests.
1 equipped with 1k lb load cell (Lab view controlled and data collection)
1 equipped with 10k lb load cell (Blue Hill controlled and Data collection)
Contact: Lab Coordinator: Greg.Potts@colorado.edu
Shock Tower
The Model 15D Shock Test System incorporates an electric hoist for table position and utilizes a damped suspension seismic base impact surface. The seismic base is a massive steel block that isolates shock energy from transmitting into the laboratory floor and surrounding building. This system is outfitted with Lansmont’s TouchTest™ Shock Control System for ease of operation. The Model 15D has the ability to test items weighing up to 40 lbs. (18.1 kg) with specimen dimensions up to 6.0 inches by 6.0 inches
Contact: Lab Coordinator: Greg.Potts@colorado.edu
Hardness tester
The Rockwell 500 employs a deadweight system which utilizes a series of incremental, stacked weights in conjunction with a lever and pivot point to apply a magnified test force at the indenter. 11” sample height with 6” throat Calibrated Rockwell A,B and C scales.
Contact: Lab Coordinator: Greg.Potts@colorado.edu
Servo Hydraulic Instron Fatigue tester
Servohydraulic testing systems are used for higher capacity fatigue and static testing of biomedical, advanced materials and manufactured components, where more working space, higher maximum actuator movement and more customization may be needed and desirable.
(Instron Controller without data collection)
Contact: Lab Coordinator: Greg.Potts@colorado.edu
MB Vibration Table
Up to 10k Hz, PM-SERIES Shaker uses permanent magnet technology and the voice coil principle to create vibration. This shaker has a maximum sine force rating of 25lb.
Contact: Lab Coordinator: Greg.Potts@colorado.edu