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The Mechanical Characterization and Testing Section of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is housed in the Solid and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory, a high-bay facility equipped with more than 20 uniaxial, servohydraulic loading frames that focuses on experimental investigations of structural integrity (fatigue and fracture) and physical measurement of mechanical properties.
The type of testing performed in the laboratory varies
and typically focuses on nonstandard applications. Tests could be as
simple as a tensile test for understanding strength characteristics of a
material or as complex as a cyclic test on a subassembly including
several pieces, multiple load paths, and extensive instrumentation.
Automated test control software, fixtures, and grips are available to
perform relevant American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) tests
to determine fatigue and fracture properties. Specimen types vary significantly and range from
simple, reduced section tensile specimen geometries to coupons
simulating actual structure or multi-piece substructural components.
Moreover, the laboratory has wide-ranging instrumentation capabilities
available to equip a test article with strain gages, load cells,
displacement gages, or other types of transducers. Additional mechanical test facilities are available from related laboratories at SwRI. In particular, structural testing can be performed on component parts or substructural elements where multiple actuators or complex loading is typical. Highly specialized pressure test facilities are also available to simulate pressures to 30,000 psig and larger sizes to 90 inches in diameter.
For more information about
mechanical characterization and testing capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please e-mail
Carl Popelar, or call (210) 522-4213. |
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| Materials Engineering Department | Mechanical & Materials Engineering Division | SwRI Home | |
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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions. |
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February 15, 2008 |
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