Abstract: A temperature control unit provides means for observing samples under microscopy at greatly elevated and greatly reduced temperatures. The temperature control unit is constructed to insulate a sample from ambient temperatures while providing a highly heat conductive substrate for the sample that provides for rapid heat transfer to/from the sample. A dry gas provided a positive pressure around the sample, as compared to atmospheric pressure to help prevent atmospheric contract with the sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting anomalous cords in reinforced composites uses means to deform and/or vibrate the composite and detect the vibration signature of the composite. Broken or frayed reinforcement cords in a reinforced composite cause changes in the vibration signature of the composite, and the apparatus used in the method of the invention employs a low damping material which is used in proximal contact to all the reinforcement cords in the reinforced composite, and one or more sensors to detect said changes. The apparatus may also include a computer for collating data, analyzing data, and providing a signal when an anomalous cord is recognized.

Abstract: A sample (16) with a cut (18) is mounted by clamps (14) between a stationary bar (10) and a movable bar (12). A motor driven cam (22) reciprocates the movable bar causing the samples to undergo cyclic deformation. A camera (C) is selectively positionable (B) to view each of the plurality of samples. A computer control (D) determines a cut length (60, 62, 64, 66) from each two dimensional electronic video image representation and stores it in a cut data memory (68). The next sampling time for each sample is calculated (72) generally in proportion to an inverse of the cut growth rate. The sampling order is re-ordered after each measurement and stored in a queuing table (78). A driver circuit (86) causes a motor (40) to position the camera in the appropriate positions to image the samples in the order indicated by the queuing table.