The testing times is a blogspot from Tinius Olsen. It is a record of some of the interesting custom made testing products and gripping solutions which the Design Engineers have developed within Tinius Olsen.
New Extensometer Technology Facilitates Better Materials Testing
New Extensometer Technology Facilitates Better Materials Testing
With tight timelines and even tighter budgets, the pressure to deliver high-caliber products has never been more important. In a world where quality and reliability can make or break a company’s reputation, cost-effective testing techniques that improve testing efficiency and benefit from modern technological advancements are the ones that will give R&D, engineers and test facilities a distinct advantage.
Since the standardization of extensometry in the 1950s, the use of an extensometer—a sophisticated ruler used to measure displacement or strain on the surface of a test piece—has not changed significantly. However, it has become evident that this testing methodology needed a boost to keep pace with modern applications, where other computing mechanisms have been built into materials testing systems.
Increased Test Efficiency
The introduction of new optical extensometer technology has made traditional, mechanical tools nearly obsolete. It uses intelligent non-contact, high-accuracy measurement techniques to eliminate the common challenges of traditional contacting and non-contact extensometers, while also offering some distinct advantages.
For those looking to take an easy, first step toward automating their existing materials testing process in order to maintain consistency in test performance, the new Vector Extensometer (Figure 1) reduces operator involvement, decreasing manual errors in calculation or calibration as well as simultaneously measure longitudinally and transverse strain.
Fig. 1: The new Vector Extensometer provides intelligent non-contact, high accuracy measurement
This self-contained, plug-in-and-power-up precision system eliminates all the tricky and cumbersome set-up options associated with other optical extensometers and removes the need for multiple PCs and interface equipment.
Using adaptive Artificial Intelligence (AI) coupled with optical hardware, Vector reduces testing time and is ideal for complex environments, such as assessing extremely fragile specimens as well as small and non-uniform specimens, measuring strain through failure or operating in harsh or dimly lit applications.
Tackling Common Trouble Spots
For each trouble area that extensometry has encountered in the past, now there’s an easy solution.
Poor grip on a specimen? Vector is non-contact. Worn edges? No problem, Vector is laser-enabled. Improper length? It is compliant with ASTM E83. The need for manual calculation? Measurements are now computerized. Worried about accuracy and the possibility of improper data collection? AI-based capture eliminates that risk.
Vector addresses it all, clip sensitivity, dulled edges, physical marking, manual calibration fluctuation, non-uniform specimens, synchronized force and strain data. It delivers quality results in every test. (Figure 2)
Fig. 2: Non-contact digital extensometer provides quality results in every test
Adoption and Usability
Setup is straightforward, so adding it to existing equipment is simple. And what is even better, there are no special skills required to run it. Everyone from new hires to company veterans can set up the machine and start running tests in no time.
Vector reduces risk because it is very hands off and streamlined, with processing power contained within the unit itself. Users don’t need a separate PC to process and manage the data. The system pre-processes it and sends direct to the main PC.
This cutting-edge technology is the very latest in digital extensometry, enabling synchronized force and strain data in real-time, with no lag.
Optimal ROI
This step-change in digital, data-driven materials test processing is seen across a wide range of industry sectors, with Vector meeting or exceeding ISO 9513 Class 0.5 and ASTM E83 Class B1 standards. Vector provides optimal overall ROI, thanks to its streamlined testing process, accurate results in every test scenario and the elimination of consumable parts that need replacement.
Accuracy, resolution, data rates, control, precise adherence to test standards, calibration, measurement of uncertainty and traceability – this new advancement in extensometry can handle them all.
To learn more about available Vector models and how new optical extensometer technology facilitates better materials testing, download our whitepaper Modern Extensometry for a Data-driven World.
When conducting tensile tests on sections cut from pipes, be it plastic gas or water pipes or steel pipes, the resulting test specimen dumbbell or “coupon” shape (dimensions of which are defined by the relevant test standard be it ISO, ATSM, GB, GOST etc) exhibits the curve of the pipe, this means it cannot generally be held for the duration of the tensile test using flat parallel grip faces as the curvature of the specimen prevents a good amount of contact between the specimen and the grip faces. The solution is a grip face which mirrors the profile of the curve in the pipe (dumbbell or coupon specimen) a V on one side and radius on the other; At Tinius Olsen we are able to precisely manufacture and supply such faces to mirror the radius of any curved specimen and implement in our tensile wedge action grips. The faces typically have a 2 mm pitch serration and hardened to 60RC in support of good specimen gripping. The faces are interchangeable for diff...
On the way of innovation, Tinius Olsen now uses its Tensile Testing Machine to put up a test to measure the wet tensile strength and performance of tissue and absorbent paper. Wet tensile strength is the maximum force supported by the unit width of a wet test piece of tissue/absorbent paper until the onset of rupture using a tensile test. EN 12625 defines th e preparation of the test specimen in terms of the edge quality and dimensional tolerances . The test specimen is placed into a Tinius Olsen tensile testing machine upper clamp so that a loop is produced around what is called the “Finch” soaking device bar; the soaking vessel containing water is raised allowing soaking for 15 seconds, the tensile force is then applied & once the specimen ruptures, the soaking vessel is removed. Results are automatically reported through Horizon test software in terms of Mean wet tensile strength (N/m) & Relative wet tensile strength (%) which qualifies the strength &...
This attachment is used to test the strength of the welds that hold mesh together. The mesh is often used as a reinforcement for concrete structures. as this is a structural component it is essential to test the consistency of the weld in any given section. A joint is cut from the mesh and placed in this attachment. A grip, the HW 14 is then placed on the end of the rod. a force of up to 50 kN is then applied and the shear strength of the weld measured. There is some adjustment in the design with a sliding plate that allows for different gauges of wire. The applicable standards are: BS4483, ASTM A185, ASTM A497 and ASTM A974. The testing application note for this grip is available from the resource area of our School of testing microsite or by clicking here .
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