The present disclosure provides a device for evaluating a mechanical property of a material. The device comprises a sensing layer that has a contact surface for contacting a surface area of the material. The sensing layer has a property or dimension that is pressure sensitive. The device also comprises a detector arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation that propagates through at least the sensing layer. The device is arranged such that, when the contact surface of the sensing layer is in contact with the surface area of the material and a load is applied on at least a portion of the surface area of the material, the detected electromagnetic radiation can be used to determine stress within a portion of the sensing layer, the determined stress being indicative of the mechanical property of the material.

A method of determining optimal values of one or more process parameters for printing a part comprises obtaining a plurality of sets of test values for the one or more process parameters. An additive manufacturing system is caused to at least partially generate a plurality of test samples according to a design and the plurality of sets of test values. During or after generation of the plurality of test samples, test data indicative of respective measurements of at least one property of the test samples are obtained. The test data are fitted to a second-order function of the one or more process parameters to determine coefficients of the one or more process parameters. Based on the second-order function and the coefficients, optimal values are determined for the one or more process parameters that result in a global optimum for the at least one property.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

The present disclosure provides an electro-mechanical fuse-type configuration built into the probe that contacts the specimen during materials testing. The design includes an internal pre-loaded compression spring and an electrical contact switch. The coil spring preloaded to the desired safety load results in the probe assembly directly passing the load from the probe tip to the load cell for loads under the point where the spring additionally compresses. Upon deflection of the spring in excess of safety preload, the spring internally compresses within the probe coupling rather than the probe tip continuing to displace into the specimen, thereby switching the state of the electrical contact switch and stopping operation of the materials testing device. In a further configuration, excessive travel of the load cell coupling is detected, and, in response, operation of the materials testing device is stopped.

A joint analyzing method includes: performing a data measurement; performing a detailed analysis; performing a simplified analysis; performing a first repetition analysis in which the detailed analysis is repeated while modifying a first analysis model in which geometry of a joint surrounding region is modeled and an analysis technique in the detailed analysis, until a data measurement result and a detailed analysis result are brought into agreement; and performing a second repetition analysis in which the simplified analysis that takes into consideration an initial internal load of at least one junction in a load non-applied state obtained in the first repetition analysis is repeated while modifying a second analysis model rougher in element division of the geometry than the first analysis model and an analysis technique in the simplified analysis, until the data measurement result and a simplified analysis result are brought into agreement.

A joint analyzing method includes: performing a data measurement; performing a detailed analysis; performing a simplified analysis; performing a first repetition analysis in which the detailed analysis is repeated while modifying a first analysis model in which geometry of a joint surrounding region is modeled and an analysis technique in the detailed analysis, until a data measurement result and a detailed analysis result are brought into agreement; and performing a second repetition analysis in which the simplified analysis that takes into consideration an initial internal load of at least one junction in a load non-applied state obtained in the first repetition analysis is repeated while modifying a second analysis model rougher in element division of the geometry than the first analysis model and an analysis technique in the simplified analysis, until the data measurement result and a simplified analysis result are brought into agreement.

A wear testing method includes setting a rotational speed of a rotary drum with a rubber sample attached to an outer surface thereof to a desired speed; setting a pressing load imparted by a contact member to a desired pressing load via a weight member; selecting as the contact member a desired contact member from a plurality of contact members with varying specifications for a contact surface that comes into contact with the surface of the rubber sample; attaching an arm portion that composes a pressing mechanism; rotating the rotary drum; and pressing the contact member against the surface of the rubber sample with the contact member being moveable in a tangent line direction of a rotation direction of the rotary drum, and detecting an amount of displacement in a pressing direction of the contact member pressing against the surface of the rubber sample via a displacement sensor.

A supporting apparatus for supporting insertion of a flexible insertion member into a subject and removal of the insertion member includes an attention point acquisition unit, a first displacement acquisition unit and a determination unit. The attention point acquisition unit specifies at least one first attention point specified by a shape of the insertion member. The first displacement acquisition unit acquires a first displacement of the first attention point. The determination unit determines how a state of the insertion member or the subject is at a position corresponding to the first attention point, based on displacement information including information on the first displacement.

An output member for a Direct Impact Hopkinson pressure bar includes an elongate tube portion and a disc-shaped cap portion. The tube portion has a first end and an opposite second end, while the cap portion includes a first face and an opposite second face. A circular stub protrudes from a center of the first face, and a circular cavity is formed in the second face. Each of the stub and the cavity is concentric with the cap portion, with a diameter of the cavity being greater than a diameter of the stub. The second face of the cap portion is positioned in intimate contact with the first end of the tube portion, with the cap portion being concentric with the tube portion.