Testing apparatuses and methods
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsPablo D. Zavattieri, Phani Saketh Dasika
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Testing apparatuses and methods, such as for testing flexural characteristics of beams. Such a testing apparatus has opposing first and second specimen holders that are spaced apart and define a gap therebetween for a test specimen. The specimen holders include elongate slots and loading fixtures are disposed in the slots so that the loading fixtures maintain contact with the slots when urging the specimen holders in either of two opposite directions. The testing apparatus can thereby capture flexural information during both loading and unloading without having to reposition the test specimen or other components of the testing apparatus because the loading fixtures stay engaged with the specimen holders within the slots in both directions.
Claims20
A testing apparatus for testing flexural characteristics of beams, the testing apparatus comprising:
- a first specimen holder spaced apart from a second specimen holder and defining a gap therebetween for a test specimen, wherein the first specimen holder comprises a first slot and a first coupler for coupling the first specimen holder to a first end of a test specimen in the gap, and wherein the second specimen holder comprises a second coupler for coupling the second specimen holder to a second end of a test specimen in the gap;
- a first support fixture pivotably supporting the first specimen holder, and a second support fixture pivotably supporting the second specimen holder;
- and
- a first loading fixture movably disposed within the first slot and configured to urge the first specimen holder to pivot in a first direction about the first support and to urge the first specimen holder to pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction about the first support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.