Servohydraulic Test Frames
Fourteen closed-loop, servohydraulic testing systems are available for monotonic, low cycle/high cycle fatigue testing, fatigue crack propagation and fracture studies. Either load, specimen gage length displacement, or stroke of the crosshead/ram can be prescribed to follow a desired function, at frequencies in the range of 0.0001-100 Hz, by means of closed-loop control. Dedicated computer control is available on most systems. Most systems routinely support testing at temperatures ranging from sub-zero to 1100°C, and equipment is available for tests with temperatures up to 1540°C. Two systems have combined axial-torsional actuators for multiaxial loading studies.
The laboratory routinely conducts tensile, cyclic stress-strain, low cycle and high cycle fatigue, plane strain fracture toughness (KIC), stable crack growth (JR-resistance curve), and fatigue crack growth tests over a wide range of temperatures on metallic and non-metallic materials.
MPCF specializes in experimental methods for studying high cycle fatigue, low cycle fatigue, thermomechanical fatigue, creep-fatigue, fretting fatigue, fracture toughness, as well as standard ASTM tests in tension, compression, bending, and axial-torsion. Specialized experiments such as thermomechanical process simulation are also commonly performed in the lab.
Electromechanical Test Frames
Seven electromechanical test systems with maximum load capacities ranging from 750 lb to 22 kip (3.3 kN to 100 kN) are available. These systems are ideal for conducting room temperature monotonic tension, compression, and bending tests when the desired crosshead speed is less than 1.0 in/min. Extensometers can be used with the larger capacity systems.