Apparatus for characterizing material properties and method

An apparatus comprising:

• a frame including at least two beams integral therewith, each beam having a first end integral with a first platform;
• an actuator being supported on the frame and being capable of displacing the first platform a displacement;
• and
• a displacement sensor being supported on the frame and capable of measuring the displacement of the first platform.

An apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a first flexure element integral with a first portion thereof and a second flexure element integral with a second portion thereof;
• an actuator supported by the frame, the actuator constructed and arranged to displace the first flexure element by a first displacement;
• a first displacement sensor supported by the frame and capable of measuring the first displacement;
• and
• a second displacement sensor supported by the frame and capable of measuring a second displacement of the second flexure element.

An apparatus for characterizing a sample comprising:

• a frame having a portion that defines a flexure element;
• an indenter supported on the frame;
• an actuator supported on the frame and constructed and arranged to displace the indenter by a displacement;
• and
• a displacement sensor supported on the frame and capable of measuring the displacement.

An apparatus for characterizing a sample comprising:

• a first actuator being capable of creating a first displacement along a first axis;
• a second actuator being capable of creating a second displacement along a second axis;
• a first displacement sensor being capable of measuring the first displacement;
• a second displacement sensor being capable of measuring the second displacement;
• and
• a frame supporting the first and second actuators and the first and second displacement sensors, wherein a first portion of the frame defines a first flexure element and a second portion of the frame defines a second flexure element and the second axis is substantially perpendicular relative to the first axis.

An apparatus for characterizing a sample comprising:

• an actuator;
• at least one displacement sensor;
• and
• a frame supporting the actuator and the displacement sensor, wherein the actuator is capable of displacing a first portion of the frame.

An apparatus for characterizing a sample comprising:

• an actuator;
• a displacement sensor;
• and
• a frame supporting the actuator and the displacement sensor, wherein a portion of the frame is displaceable by a force from the sample and the displacement sensor is capable of measuring the displacement of the portion of the frame.

An apparatus for characterizing a sample comprising:

• at least one actuator;
• a displacement sensor;
• and
• a frame supporting the actuator and the displacement sensor, wherein the frame is capable of exerting a first force along a first axis and a second force along a second axis.

A method comprising:

• displacing a first end of a sample by a first rectilinear displacement along an axis;
• displacing a second end of a sample by a second rectilinear displacement along the axis;
• and
• creating a force proportional to the second displacement along the axis.

A method for characterizing a sample comprising:

• providing a testing apparatus comprising:
• a frame supporting an actuator;
• a loading displacement sensor and an actuating displacement sensor;
• and
• a loading flexure element integral with the frame and an actuating flexure
• element integral with the frame;
• determining a reactive force curve created by the loading flexure element in response to a loading displacement of the loading flexure element;
• supporting a first end of the sample in the actuating flexure element and a second end of the sample in the loading flexure element;
• actuating the actuator to create an actuating displacement in the actuating flexure element;
• and
• determining the loading displacement in response to the applied force on the sample.

A method for characterizing a sample comprising:

• providing a testing apparatus comprising a frame having a sample stage and supporting an actuator and a displacement sensor, the frame defining a flexure element supporting an indenter;
• supporting the sample on the sample stage;
• actuating the actuator to create a displacement of the flexure element and the indenter;
• measuring the displacement;
• and
• determining the applied force to the sample by comparing the displacement to a calibration curve.

A method for characterizing a sample comprising:

• providing a testing apparatus comprising:
• a frame supporting an normal actuator;
• a translating actuator;
• a normal loading displacement sensor;
• and
• a translating displacement sensor, the frame defining a normal loading flexure element and an translating flexure element;
• supporting the sample in the frame;
• actuating the actuator to create a normal loading displacement in the normal flexure element and apply a normal force on the sample;
• actuating the translating actuator to create a translating displacement in the translating flexure element;
• and
• measuring the normal loading displacement and the translating displacement.

An apparatus for characterizing a sample comprising:

• an actuator;
• a displacement sensor;
• and
• a frame supporting the displacement sensor, wherein a portion of the frame is displaceable by a force from the sample and the displacement sensor is capable of measuring the displacement of the portion of frame.

A method for producing a testing apparatus comprising:

• providing a substantially planar billet having a desired thickness;
• forming a flexure element from a portion of the billet;
• installing an actuator on the billet;
• and
• installing a displacement sensor on the billet capable of measuring the displacement of the flexure element.

An apparatus comprising:

• a flex element having at least two beams, each beam having a first end integral with a first platform;
• an actuator capable of displacing the first platform a displacement;
• and
• a displacement sensor capable of measuring the displacement of the first platform.