Microtesting rig with variable compliance loading fibers for measuring mechanical properties of small specimens
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsRobert Wheeler, IV, Paul A. Shade, Michael D. Uchic
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Abstract
The present invention provides a microtesting rig for measuring mechanical properties of small specimens. The rig includes a microsized specimen positioned on a mounting block, an interchangeable contact tip connected with an actuator and configured for contact with the microsized specimen, and a magnifying imaging system for imaging the microsized specimen. The contact tip may be a fiber platen for compression testing or a fiber grip for tension testing.
Claims10
A microtesting rig for measuring mechanical properties of small specimens, comprising:
- a mounting block configured to receive a microsized specimen;
- an actuator configured to generate a displacement motion of at least 10 μm;
- and
- a compression contact tip operably coupled to the actuator and configured to apply a compressive force onto the microsized specimen, the compressive force having a magnitude proportional to the displacement motion of the actuator;
- and
- a tension grip, interchangeable with the compression contact tip to be operably coupled to the actuator, the tension grip configured to receive at least a portion of the microsized specimen and apply a tensioning force thereto, the tensioning force having a magnitude proportional to the displacement motion of the actuator.
A system for evaluating plastic flow in a microsized specimen having a width dimension less than 40 μm the system comprising:
- a high-magnification imaging device comprising:
- a stage configured to receive a sample:
- and
- a camera configured to capture images of a sample on the stage:
- and
- a microtesting rig comprising:
- a frame configured to be mounted to the stage of the high-magnification imaging device;
- a mounting block operably coupled to the frame and configured to receive a microsized specimen;
- an actuator operably coupled to the frame and configured to generate a displacement motion of at least 10 μm in a direction toward the mounting block;
- and
- a plurality of actuator tips, each of the plurality of actuator tips being interchangeably coupled to the actuator and configured to contact the microsized specimen mounted onto the mounting block, wherein a first one of the plurality of actuator tips is configured to apply a compressive force onto the microsized specimen and a second one of the plurality of actuator tips is configured receive at least a portion of the microsized specimen and apply a tensioning force thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.