End-cap-to-piston coupling for triaxial test apparatus

A load coupling for transferring a load from a load piston of a triaxial test apparatus to a material sample for measuring strength of deformation of the sample, the material sample having a top end cap thereon, the coupling comprising

• a body member having a top and a bottom,
• the body member having an end cap recess in the bottom thereof with an open end for receiving the top end cap mounted above the material sample,
• the body member having a piston recess in the top thereof for receiving a load piston of triaxial test apparatus for applying a load through the coupling and top end cap to the material sample, and
• end cap reception apparatus secured about the open end of the end cap recess and having an outwardly tapered lip to facilitate entry of the end cap into the end cap recess.

A load coupling for transferring a load from a load piston of a triaxial test apparatus to a material sample for measuring strength of deformation of the sample, the sample having a top end cap mounted thereon, the coupling comprising

• a body member having a top and a bottom,
• at least one bottom member having an end cap recess in a bottom thereof for receiving the top end cap,
• at least one top member having a piston recess in a top thereof for receiving a load piston of a triaxial test apparatus for applying a load through the coupling and top end cap to the material sample,
• the at least one bottom member releasably securable to the bottom of the body member, and
• the at least one top member releasably securable to the top of the body member.

A load coupling for transferring a load from a load piston of a triaxial test apparatus to a material sample for measuring strength of deformation of the sample, the sample having a top end cap mounted thereon, the coupling comprising

• a body member having a top and a bottom,
• a load cell in the body member,
• a plurality of bottom members each having an end cap recess in a bottom thereof for receiving a top end cap, each end cap recess of different size, the plurality of bottom members for accommodating end caps of different size,
• a plurality of top members each having a piston recess in a top thereof for receiving a load piston of a triaxial test apparatus for applying a load through the coupling and top end cap to the sample, each piston recess of different size, the plurality of top members for accommodating load pistons of different size of a triaxial test apparatus,
• each bottom member releasably securable to the bottom of the body member,
• each top member releasably securable to the top of the body member, and
• a ball recess in the body member for receiving a ball disposed between the load piston and the top end cap so that a load applied by the load piston is transferred through the ball to the top end cap.