The Testing Times

We hosted the Twelfth Annual Super Light Weight Composite Bridge & Wing Building Contest at the SAMPE 2009, in Baltimore, MD last month. The competition runs annually at SAMPE and we co-sponsored the competition. The results were very impressive with over 80 entrants to the competition. Each bridge and wing was tested on a Tinius Olsen U-Series machine with self-aligning compression attachment & base fixture to position the bridge in place. Students built bridges and wings to design specification by SAMPE ( click here for more information ) – one of the best bridges was number 41 – University Delaware. The bridge which won the competition was designed by students of the University of Washington – Video number 71 – it had the highest ultimate load to weight ratio. Video footage of the testing results which were performed at the show can be found on the Tinius Olsen website Interested in taking part next year? This is a competition which runs annually at the SAMPE show – SAMPE

Here at Tinius Olsen the engineers have designed yet another custom grip attachment. Two version of the new high temperature compression cages for use in an environmental chamber . Part numbers 270 032 & 270 033. The Compression cages are rated at 25kN and 50kN, and can be tested at temperatures between -70 to +200 degrees C. They are designed to test the largest possible samples that can be tested in the Environmental chamber . As sample with maximum size of 100mm wide x 200mm deep x 200mm high. For more information contact us.

Here at Tinius Olsen, we manufacture a range of different measuring devices to measure the defletion of the material you are testing. One of these tools is the 'Pipe crush LVDT'. This tool is used in compression tests of plastic pipes to accurately measure the pipe deflection at given forces. We supply different sizes corresponding to the different pipe diameters. For more information on LVDT's or other extensometers used to measure the deflection of a sample under going test visit our main website here or contact us .