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The 6,500-sq-ft SwRI Solid and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory (Solids Lab), houses 18 closed-loop, servo-hydraulic testing systems providing load capacities between 1,000 and 200,000 lbs.
 

Using coupon specimens or more realistic geometries simulating an in-service structure, fatigue and fracture tests can be performed at the following temperatures:

• Ambient

• Cryogenic

• High temperatures

Closed Loop Materials Test Systems

Electro-Mechanical

• 1 at 22,000 lbs

• 1 at 400,000 lbs

Servo-Hydraulic

• 1 at 1,000 lbs

• 7 at 10,000 lbs

• 2 at 22,000 lbs

• 2 at 50,000 lbs

• 3 at 110,000 lbs

• 1 at 150,000 lbs

• 2 at 200,000 lbs

• 1 biaxial test system (10,000 lbs axial, 3,000 in-lbs torsion/internal pressure)

Data Acquisition and Computer Equipment

• Nine fully automated FCG control PCs: Full spectrum loading and non-visual crack length capability

• Seven Labview data acquisition systems: 16 bit, 16 channel single ended inputs or eight channel differential inputs, 100 kHz maximum sample rate. Installed data acquisition boards also include 2 channel 16 bit D/A outputs, 2 each 24-bit counters, and 8 channels digital input/output

• Non-visual crack length measurement: Potential drop (DC or AC), elastic compliance

• 12 channels of FRACTOMAT crack growth instrumentation (indirect DCPD system)

• High-speed 12 bit, 1 MHz transient digital storage recorders (eight channels)

• Two MTS micro-profilers (arbitrary waveform generation)

• Three high temperature 2,200°F extensometers (1-inch gage length)

• One high temperature 2,200°F diametric strain transducer

• One Z-mike laser extensometer

• Local area network (LAN) with ethernet connection to SwRI computing facilities

• 28 strain gage conditioning amplifiers

Additional Test Facilities

Additional specialized equipment exists for:

• Creep testing (ambient and high temperature)

• High rate fracture testing

• Environmental and temperature control

• Other mechanical test arrangements

Creep Facilities

• Computer-automated creep crack growth systems operating at a maximum of 1,800°F

• Creep/fatigue testing with long hold times and a maximum of 1,800°F

• Creep frame for ceramic testing (4,000°F compression, 2,900°F tension)

• Creep-rupture testing in unusual environments

High-Rate Test Systems

• Tension/compression split Hopkinson pressure bar

• maximum bar stress = 120 ksi

• temperature range -320°F to 500°F

• Compression split Hopkinson pressure bar with confining pressure

• maximum bar stress = 340 ksim

• maximum confining pressure = 25 ksi at 75°F

• temperature range = -320°F to 2,500°F (without confining pressure)

• High speed torsional machine (2,700 in-lbs)

• Coupled pressure bars for dynamic fracture toughness testing

Temperature and Environmental Control

• Six resistance and quartz lamp coaxial ovens, at a maximum of 2,000°F.

• Centorr vacuum furnace, at a maximum of 2,300°C.

• One induction heater, 20 kW (425 kHz)

• One induction heater, 10 kW (10 kHz)

• Environmental chambers

  • temperature/humidity

  • ultra-low humidity

  • vacuum

• High-temperature ceramic test system with super grip, capacitive extensometry and Super-Kanthal, or induction heating furnaces

Impact Loading and High-Cycle Fatigue

• RR Moore rotating beam fatigue tester, 10,000 cycles per minute

• Sheet bending fatigue

• High cycle fatigue testing (~ Two kHz)

Additional Laboratory Equipment

The laboratory contains uniaxial test frames with closed-loop computer control capability. A partial list of equipment includes:

• More than 20 servohydraulic and three servoelectric test frames ranging from one to 200 kips

• One fully automated fatigue crack growth test control systems (FTA) allowing K-control (for da/dN testing) and variable-amplitude SCG tests

• Seven LabVIEW 16-bit data acquisition systems and high-speed, transient 12-bit DSOs

• Direct and indirect potential drop for nonvisual crack measurement
  Extensometers, microprofilers, and strain amplifiers

• Resistance and quartz lamp ovens (2,000° F maximum)

• Induction furnaces (temperature grip limited) and molydisilicide element furnace (3,600° F)

• Enclosures for aggressive and high-temperature environments
  High-cycle fatigue frame (>1,000 Hz)

• Two split Hopkinson pressure bars (120 and 340 ksi maximum stress)

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.
 

| Materials Engineering Department | Mechanical & Materials Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

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.

February 15, 2008