Materials Test Rig

Test carried out on this rig include:

Four-Point Bend Test

The four-point bend test is used to determine bending stiffness of specimen tubes.

The test pipe is supported at either end, then a constant, know bending moment is applied to the test pipe between two centre load points.

Using a dial gauge, the deflection of the tube is measured at the centre. A simple bending theory is used to calculate the flexural stiffness of the specimen tube.

Tensile Test

The tensile test is used to apply a tension load on a sample tube. The force is measured with a load cell on a test machine and recorded.

A video extensometer is used to measure strain in the load direction and perpendicular to load direction.

The video extensometer focuses on a pattern on the surface of the pipe and monitors the relative change to the pattern under strain.

Axial modulus and Poissons Ratio can be determined from these tests.

Compression Test

The compression test is used to apply axial load in compression to the tube. A coupon of the pipe is made and end fittings attached. 

Tests record applied load and strain; from these results we can determine compressive modulus and Poissons Ratio.
A Video Extensometer is used to measure compressive strain by focusing on a pattern on the surface of the pipe and monitoring the relative changes to the pattern under compression.