The Materials and Testing Lab is primarily used for processing and evaluating mechanical tests related to research lines that include, among others, strength tests, material characterization, impact and vibrational testing. Those data sets generated during such experiments allow straightforward and intuitive comparison between computational mechanics results and laboratory test data.
An Instron® Universal testing machine is available for uniaxial mechanical testing, such as traction, compression, as well as bending tests. These mechanical tests are suitable for static testing of a wide range of materials, such as composites and metals. The machine have a 250 kN Load cell capacity integrated with two pairs of clamps: 200 kN or a 50 kN for testing low stiffness materials.
Also, it can be synchronized with one or two photographic cameras to perform Digital Image Correlation (DIC) analysis and precisely capture a more accurate displacement or strain field of the specimens. This technique, when applied to mechanical testing, is able to provide both local and avarage data thus making it a much more appealing technique in comparison to strain gages and extensometers.
Laboratory capabilities also includes:
- Bending test apparatus– 3 and 4 points bending (Flexure Modulus and Strenght);
- Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) – Mode I;
- End Notched Flexure (ENF) – Mode II;
- Mixed-Mode Bending apparatus (MMB) – Mode I+II;
- Rail-Test apparatus (Composite Shear Modulus);
- Digital Oscilloscope and Piezoelectric Sensors that can be attached to the specimens to vibrational analysis;
- Impact Test;
For data processing of dynamic signals, the group is equipped with LabVIEW®, which is a software that can be integrated to the Charge Amplifier and Data Aquisition Unit for Dynamic Measurements LabAmp®. This equipment can be usued wherever dynamic signals of mechanical quantities are measured with piezoelectric sensors, Piezotron sensors (IEPE) or sensors with voltage output. The data device delivers the digitalized measurement values directly to a host computer for further analysis. With this equipment, the group is able to measure precisely and with high resolution acceleration, vibration measurements, force measurements, among other applications.
