Abstract: A grip for holding soft materials is described wherein the gripping surface of the grip is cooled by a thermo-electric cooler. The grip of the present invention includes grip members having opposed gripping surfaces that contact the soft material. The grip does not require use of cryogenic materials and is suitable for use in contact with fluids at body temperature. The temperature of the grip can be easily controlled.

Abstract: A portable device for measuring the shear properties of a material specimen under applied dynamic circumferential forces against the specimen perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said specimen. The device may further apply a dynamic force against an end of the specimen. The device includes clamps that hold the specimen at its proximal and distal end, wherein the circumferential force applied to the specimen is affectively applied between the two clamps. The temperature of the specimen may be held constant by controlling the temperature within an environmental chamber through the use of a closed loop PID control system. The force against the specimen is dynamically loaded by a dynamic load reaction frame consisting of a shear load actuator and load reaction structure. A microprocessor-based controller operates the dynamic load reaction frame under closed loop control.