A weld coupon destructive test device includes a support base. A plunger connected to the support base and movable between a first position and a second position along a length of the support base. A handle to operate the plunger between the first position and the second position. A header on the support base, the header configured to press a weld coupon between the header and the plunger, the header having a first support end and a second support end, the header having a depression formed between the first support end and the second support end. The weld coupon rests between the first support end and the second support end of the header, and the weld coupon is pressed into the depression formed between the first support end and the second support end of the header.

A weld coupon destructive test device includes a support base. A plunger connected to the support base and movable between a first position and a second position along a length of the support base. A handle to operate the plunger between the first position and the second position. A header on the support base, the header configured to press a weld coupon between the header and the plunger, the header having a first support end and a second support end, the header having a depression formed between the first support end and the second support end. The weld coupon rests between the first support end and the second support end of the header, and the weld coupon is pressed into the depression formed between the first support end and the second support end of the header.

The invention relates to a photosensitive printing composition comprising a photocatalyst which exhibits a photocatalytic effect when exposed to UV and/or visible radiation, a colouring agent that exhibits a colour change in response to the photocatalytic effect, and a film forming agent. The composition has a viscosity suitable for printing. The invention further relates to a sun-exposure sensor comprising a photosensitive layer printed on a surface of a support, the photosensitive layer comprising a photocatalyst which exhibits a photocatalytic effect when exposed to UV and/or visible radiation, a colouring agent that exhibits a colour change in response to the photocatalytic effect, and a film forming agent.

The invention relates to a photosensitive printing composition comprising a photocatalyst which exhibits a photocatalytic effect when exposed to UV and/or visible radiation, a colouring agent that exhibits a colour change in response to the photocatalytic effect, and a film forming agent. The composition has a viscosity suitable for printing. The invention further relates to a sun-exposure sensor comprising a photosensitive layer printed on a surface of a support, the photosensitive layer comprising a photocatalyst which exhibits a photocatalytic effect when exposed to UV and/or visible radiation, a colouring agent that exhibits a colour change in response to the photocatalytic effect, and a film forming agent.

The present invention discloses a method for detecting compaction and shear strength characteristics of an asphalt mixture during construction compaction. The method mainly includes the following steps: using a device for detecting compaction and shear strength characteristics of the asphalt mixture; pressing a test claw into the asphalt mixture during construction; rotating the test claw slowly and uniformly to measure an internal temperature and a shear characteristic of the mixture during paving and subsequent compaction; calculating a corresponding compaction detection index based on the shear characteristic; and monitoring and guiding the construction quality and construction process accordingly based on the real-time detection index. The present invention measures the compaction detection index of the asphalt mixture during compaction simply, quickly and accurately. The present invention uses the compaction detection index together with a degree of compaction for dual control of asphalt pavement compaction.

The present invention discloses a method for detecting compaction and shear strength characteristics of an asphalt mixture during construction compaction. The method mainly includes the following steps: using a device for detecting compaction and shear strength characteristics of the asphalt mixture; pressing a test claw into the asphalt mixture during construction; rotating the test claw slowly and uniformly to measure an internal temperature and a shear characteristic of the mixture during paving and subsequent compaction; calculating a corresponding compaction detection index based on the shear characteristic; and monitoring and guiding the construction quality and construction process accordingly based on the real-time detection index. The present invention measures the compaction detection index of the asphalt mixture during compaction simply, quickly and accurately. The present invention uses the compaction detection index together with a degree of compaction for dual control of asphalt pavement compaction.

Certain disclosed method embodiments concern performing a stalk puncture test to determine force and displacement data. Plant features, such as rind thickness, stalk radius, stalk diameter, section modulus and/or integrative puncture score, primarily applicable to corn, sorghum, sunflower, wheat or rice, can be calculated using the force and displacement data. The calculated plant features are used to select plants for selective breeding to produce lodging-resistant crop hybrids. The present invention also provides embodiments of a hand-held puncture device that can be used to practice disclosed method embodiments.

A hybrid experimental-numerical approach is disclosed to determine the Mixed Mode (I/III) dynamic fracture initiation toughness of engineering materials. Cylindrical Aluminum alloy specimens with a V-notch spiral crack on the surface at spiral angles of 0°, 11.25°, 22.5°, 33.75°, and 45° are subjected to dynamic torsion load using torsional Hopkinson bar apparatus. The torque applied to the specimen at the onset of fracture is measured through strain gages attached to the incident and transmitter bars. A stereo digital image correlation is performed to measure the full-field deformation, and the crack mouth opening displacement as a function of loading time and is used to estimate the time at which the crack initiation is started. The dynamic stress intensity factors are extracted numerically based on the dynamic interaction integral method using Abaqus. The Mode-I (K.sub.Id), Mode-III (K.sub.IIId), and Mixed Mode (K.sub.(I/III)d) dynamic initiation toughness is presented as a function of spiral angles and loading rate.

A hybrid experimental-numerical approach is disclosed to determine the Mixed Mode (I/III) dynamic fracture initiation toughness of engineering materials. Cylindrical Aluminum alloy specimens with a V-notch spiral crack on the surface at spiral angles of 0°, 11.25°, 22.5°, 33.75°, and 45° are subjected to dynamic torsion load using torsional Hopkinson bar apparatus. The torque applied to the specimen at the onset of fracture is measured through strain gages attached to the incident and transmitter bars. A stereo digital image correlation is performed to measure the full-field deformation, and the crack mouth opening displacement as a function of loading time and is used to estimate the time at which the crack initiation is started. The dynamic stress intensity factors are extracted numerically based on the dynamic interaction integral method using Abaqus. The Mode-I (K.sub.Id), Mode-III (K.sub.IIId), and Mixed Mode (K.sub.(I/III)d) dynamic initiation toughness is presented as a function of spiral angles and loading rate.

A resonant column device configured to perform a resonant column test on a specimen and measure an angular deformation of the specimen. The resonant column device has a housing mounted on a base, a specimen container within the housing, a cell wall surrounding the specimen container, a load frame within the housing with a support bar above the specimen container, a torque motor suspended from the support bar with a plurality of springs, and a laser deformation sensor within the housing outside of the specimen container. The specimen container is configured to hold the specimen during testing. The cell wall is configured to fluidly isolate the specimen container from an interior volume of the housing. The torque motor is configured to apply a torsional harmonic load to the specimen, and the laser deformation sensor is configured to measure an angular deformation of the specimen.