Abstract: The invention relates to a test device for carrying out load tests on flexible, elongated test objects, including a first suspension which is movably guided along a closed circulating path for a first end of the test object, a drive for moving the first suspension along the path, a second suspension for fastening another end of the test object, and a mass body that can be attached to the test object between the two suspensions in such a manner that the mass body is movable along the test object.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to fatigue testing are described. For example, some embodiments may contain a terminal fixer, a terminal support, a bending machine, and a stress-strain collector, and may be used for testing fatigue properties of offshore pipes, risers and their connectors. Some embodiments may be used to apply extruding, twisting and high frequency bending to the testing sample during one testing period, so that the various fatigue properties of the testing sample can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the absorbency of an absorbent article comprises the steps of: (i) providing an absorbent article comprising a topsheet and having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; (ii) disposing the absorbent article in a flat configuration in a plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the absorbent article; (iii) twisting the longitudinal ends in opposite directions in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; (iv) twisting the longitudinal ends in directions opposite that of step (iii); (v) applying artificial bodily fluid to the topsheet of said absorbent article during steps (iii) and/or (iv); and (vi) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) after the artificial bodily fluid is applied to the topsheet.

Abstract: A coupon fabrication with defined distortion in the form of marceled fibers and test protocol is employed to determine the shape of the failure probability density curve to improve the analyses of the risk of fiber distortion anomalies in composite structures. This protocol provides a method to determine the probability of and the severity of the various distorted fiber conditions that might exist on composite structure in fabrication and in service. A distortion characterization matrix is established for determining test shapes and providing defect characterization based on the results of tests on the selected shapes.

Abstract: A method, system and computer product for detecting the location of a deformation of a structure includes baselining a defined energy transmitting characteristic for each of the plurality of laterally adjacent conductors attached to the structure. Each of the plurality of conductors includes a plurality of segments coupled in series and having an associated unit value representative of the defined energy transmitting characteristic. The plurality of laterally adjacent conductors includes a plurality of identity groups with each identity group including at least one of the plurality of segments from each of the plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors are monitored for a difference in the defined energy transmitting characteristic when compared with a baseline energy transmitting characteristic for each of the plurality of conductors. When the difference exceeds a threshold value, a location of the deformation along the structure is calculated.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting, locating and quantifying a physical phenomena such as strain or a deformation in a structure. A plurality of laterally adjacent conductors may each include a plurality of segments. Each segment is constructed to exhibit a unit value representative of a defined energy transmission characteristic. A plurality of identity groups are defined with each identity group comprising a plurality of segments including at least one segment from each of the plurality of conductors. The segments contained within an identity group are configured and arranged such that each of their associated unit values may be represented by a concatenated digit string which is a unique number relative to the other identity groups. Additionally, the unit values of the segments within an identity group maintain unique ratios with respect to the other unit values in the identity group.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting, locating and quantifying a physical phenomena such as strain or a deformation in a structure. A plurality of laterally adjacent conductors may each include a plurality of segments. Each segment is constructed to exhibit a unit value representative of a defined energy transmission characteristic. A plurality of identity groups are defined with each identity group comprising a plurality of segments including at least one segment from each of the plurality of conductors. The segments contained within an identity group are configured and arranged such that each of their associated unit values may be represented by a concatenated digit string which is a unique number relative to the other identity groups. Additionally, the unit values of the segments within an identity group maintain unique ratios with respect to the other unit values in the identity group.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a plurality of samples comprises a carousel, means for indexing the movement of the carousel, an environmental chamber, and means for positioning the sample for viewing and measuring the results of the testing. The environmental chamber makes possible testing at elevated or reduced temperatures, and testing in a variety of atmospheres. The sample positioning means and the viewing means are automated.

Abstract: A stress testing apparatus includes a cylinder block 2 with twelve cylinders 4, each housing a piston 14. Hydraulic pressure is provided to each of the cylinders 4 by a common supply bore 6 for urging each piston 14 out of its respective cylinder 4. A stress testing device 16 is mounted over each cylinder 4 and piston 14. For tensile testing (see FIG. 3) of a specimen (X), a piston (14a) acts on the housing (28a) of the device (16a) through pins (26), to push the housing (28a) away from the cylinder block 2. The specimen X is mounted between the housing (28a) and the cylinder block 2. For compressive testing (see FIG. 4), of a specimen Y the housing (28b) is rigidly secured to the cylinder block 2, and the cylinder (14b) acts to compress the specimen Y between the housing (28b) and the cylinder block 2 through a shaft (22b).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting the onset of stress corrosion cracking are described. In one aspect, the present invention is a passive detector for in-situ detection of the onset of stress corrosion cracking in a nuclear reactor. The detector includes a ceramic insulator mounting member. A first material sample and a second material sample are secured to the mounting member. In the one embodiment, a metal bolt extends through the first and second material samples and secures the samples to the mounting member. The first material sample is cold worked to induce residual tensile stress and the second material is not cold worked. A first electrical conductor is electrically connected to the first material sample and a second electrical conductor is electrically connected to the second material sample.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for the stress testing of glass containers (10) which are arranged hanging, by impulse action on the bottom (14) of the container through the adjustable action of force on an impacting rod (12) resting on the bottom (14) of the container. For the action of the force, an adjustable source of energy (26) is used which may comprise an eccentric, an ultrasonic transmitter (26b), a magnetic actuating drive or the like, which acts on the end (18) of the rod (12), resting on the bottom of the container, remote from the bottom (14) of the container. The shaking exerted on the glass container during subsequent filling can be simulated by the action of the force which is adjustable in duration and/or amplitude, so that glass containers suspected of breakage can be eliminated by the stress test before being filled. The action of force can be proportioned in a simple manner so that optimum test vibration values can easily be adjusted.

Abstract: A fatigue testing apparatus (10) for simultaneously subjecting a plurality of material test specimens (24) to cyclical tension loading to determine the fatigue strength of the material. The fatigue testing apparatus includes a pulling head (12) having cylinders (26) defined therein which carry reciprocating pistons (32). The reciprocation of the pistons is determined by cyclical supplies of pressurized fluid to the cylinders. Piston rods (18) extend from the pistons through the pulling head and are attachable to one end of test specimens, the other end of the test specimens being attachable to a fixed base (38), causing test specimens attached between the piston rods and the base to be subjected to cyclical tension loading. Because all of the cylinders share a common pressurized fluid supply, the breaking of a test specimen does not substantially affect the pressure of the fluid supplied to the other cylinders nor the tension applied to the other test specimens.

Abstract: In order to determine the fatigue limit of elastic materials, especially rubber, under completely reversed stress by applying a load which alternates between zero and a maximum value and in order to determine the number of load alternations which leads to the breaking of the material, a plurality of strip-shaped rubber samples are clamped between two stationary clamping beams and a rocker. The rocker is approximately parallel to the beams and is moved at one end thereof by means of a crank mechanism. The rubber samples are each positioned parallel to one another in at least one row and are alternately stretched and relaxed to a different extent, depending on their spacing from the fulcrum of the rocker.

Abstract: A battery electrode fatigue simulator having a frame which supports therein a pivotal and a stationary beam. The pivotal and stationary beams secure therebetween an electrode plaque which is to undergo the fatigue simulation. Also mounted to the frame is a rotatable cam of predetermined dimension which acts upon a cam follower forming part of the pivotal beam thereby causing cyclic movement or displacement of the pivotal beam. This cyclic displacement is transferred to the plaque as a cyclic stress in tension. Measurements are made of the displacement of the pivotal beam as well as resistance of the plaque during the application of the cyclic stress. The cyclic displacement versus resistance relationship is representative of the fatigue a battery electrode will undergo during actual battery operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for testing vehicle wheel rims. The device comprises means of positioning and holding the rim, means for applying loads on the rim, and is characterized by the fact that the said means for applying loads on the rim comprise, on the one hand, a set of controllable jacks whose heads are able to cooperate with the rim, and on the other hand, a control member to actuate the jacks successively according to a predetermined cycle. The device is particularly useful for testing the rims of aircraft wheels.

Abstract: Precision guide means for accurately directing lumber to and/or receiving cut lengths from saws. The guide means is mounted for selective movement by setworks back and forth across a path along which the lumber moves. A closed hydraulic system includes piston-cylinder units with a unit near each of opposite ends of the guide means. One end of each cylinder unit is fixed against movement and the opposite end thereof is connected to the adjacent end of the guide means, and pipe means interconnects these cylinder units so that when the guide means is moved, hydraulic fluid is transferred from an end of one of the units to an opposite end of another unit to ensure that both ends of the guide means move exactly the same distance. The guide means can be a linebar and a tailbar interconnected by the hydraulic system so that they are moved in unison exactly the same distance by the setworks. The guide means can be or include a relatively long splitter.