# US 12,111,293 B2 · Systems and methods for evaluating rigidity of angle bracket

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- Number: US 12,111,293 B2
- Document ID: US12111293B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/538,560
- Filed: 2021-11-30
- Published: 2023-06-01
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-30
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC; Northwestern University
- Inventors: Joshua Lee Solomon; Hui-ping Wang; Bradley J Blaski; Vivian Vasquez; Lu Huang; Dohyun Leem; Jian Cao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111293B2

## CPC

- G01N 3/08: by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence)
- G01N 3/06: Special adaptations of indicating or recording means
- G01N 2203/0017: Tensile
- G01N 2203/0019: Compressive
- G01N 2203/0058: Kind of property studied
- G01N 2203/0067: Fracture or rupture
- G01N 2203/04: Chucks, fixtures, jaws, holders or anvils
- G01N 2203/06: Indicating or recording means; Sensing means
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A system for evaluating a rigidity of an angle bracket includes a test system having a first test fixture and a second test fixture. The system includes an angle bracket coupon including a first wall, a second wall coupled to the first wall at a bend to define an angle between the first wall and the second wall, and at least one three dimensional feature defined at the bend that extends between the first wall and the second wall. The angle bracket coupon is to be coupled to at least one of the first test fixture and the second test fixture to evaluate the rigidity of the angle bracket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for evaluating a rigidity of an angle bracket, comprising:
engaging an angle bracket coupon with a first test fixture and a second test fixture, the angle bracket coupon configured to correspond to the angle bracket;
the angle bracket coupon including a first wall, a second wall coupled to the first wall at a bend to define an angle between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall terminating at a first end or the first wall connected to a first support wing extending outwardly at an obtuse angle from the first wall, the second wall terminating at a first end or the second wall connected to a second support wing extending outwardly at an obtuse angle from the second wall, and at least one three dimensional feature defined at the bend that extends between the first wall and the second wall, and the first test fixture engaging the bend or engaging the first end of the first wall and the first end of the second wall or engaging at least one of the first support wing or the second support wing, and the second test fixture engaging the bend or engaging the first end of the first wall and the first end of the second wall or engaging at least one of the first support wing or the second support wing;
moving, by a test system, the first test fixture relative to the second test fixture;
measuring, by the test system, a force and a displacement associated with the angle bracket coupon; and
outputting data of the measuring of the force and the displacement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, engaging the angle bracket coupon with the first test fixture and the second test fixture further comprises:
coupling the first support wing of the angle bracket coupon to the first test fixture; and
coupling the second support wing of the angle bracket coupon to the second test fixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein each of the first test fixture and the second test fixture is a grip clamp.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the angle bracket coupon includes one of a bead and a bar coupled to at least one of the first wall and the second wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein each of the first test fixture and the second test fixture is a compression plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the outputting data of the measuring of the force and the displacement further comprises outputting a graph of the force versus the displacement, and determining the rigidity of the angle bracket based on a slope of the graph.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the moving, by the test system, the first test fixture relative to the second test fixture further comprises:
moving, by the test system, the first test fixture in a first direction to apply tension to the angle bracket coupon.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the moving, by the test system, the first test fixture relative to the second test fixture further comprises:
moving, by the test system, the first test fixture in a second direction to compress the angle bracket coupon, the second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the moving, by the test system, the first test fixture relative to the second test fixture further comprises:
moving, by the test system, the first test fixture toward the second test fixture to axially compress to the angle bracket coupon to determine an amount of energy absorbed during axial compression.