Test apparatus to determine the shear strength of a composite sandwich beam under a high hydrostatic load

A test apparatus for determining shear strength of a composite sandwich beam, said apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure with a first aperture at a first end and a second aperture at a second end with a cutout along at least one side of said enclosure with the cutout extending from the second end partially to the first end;
• a bladder sized to be insertable through the first aperture and expandable to create a volume within said enclosure with said bladder including a bladder flange integral to and extending outward from a first end of said bladder;
• a blind flange mechanically attachable to the first end of said enclosure and said bladder flange such that said flange is capable of securing said bladder flange to said enclosure;
• at least one support platform for the composite sandwich beam, said support platform sized to be positioned at an open end of a perimeter of the cutout;
• at least one pressure fitting fluidly connected to said bladder through said blind flange, said pressure fitting capable of fluidly attaching to a pressure source to pressurize said bladder;
• and
• at least one drain fitting fluidly connected to said bladder for draining said bladder;
• wherein said bladder once filled to a predetermined pressure imparts a measurable hydrostatic load to the composite sandwich beam.