Provided is a material testing machine (1) including: a load mechanism (12) that applies a load to a test object; a load measurement device that measures the load applied to the test object; and a control device (30) that performs a feedback control for the load mechanism (12) based on a deviation between a measurement value of the load and a target value of the load, in which a change in a physical quantity generated in the test object due to the load is measured, and the control device (30) includes a hunting detection unit (66) that detects hunting by comparing a frequency spectrum obtained by converting time-series data of the measurement value with a frequency spectrum obtained by converting the time-series data of the target value.

A method of evaluating railway ties for deterioration is mounted on a moving vehicle along the rails where the presence of the tie is detected and an impact energy source is used to create at least one wave in a surface of the tie which travels longitudinally along the tie. At positions spaced longitudinally from the source, the time of arrival of the wave is detected typically by a series of sensors responsive to air pressure changes to determine a speed of propagation of the wave in the tie and, in the event that the speed in said tie is below a predetermined speed, an output indication is provided regarding the deterioration of the tie, which can include a real time marking of the tie detected.

A method of evaluating railway ties for deterioration is mounted on a moving vehicle along the rails where the presence of the tie is detected and an impact energy source is used to create at least one wave in a surface of the tie which travels longitudinally along the tie. At positions spaced longitudinally from the source, the time of arrival of the wave is detected typically by a series of sensors responsive to air pressure changes to determine a speed of propagation of the wave in the tie and, in the event that the speed in said tie is below a predetermined speed, an output indication is provided regarding the deterioration of the tie, which can include a real time marking of the tie detected.

The present invention relates to a test arrangement for the crash simulation of motor vehicles, said test arrangement having a first carriage, which is movable substantially horizontally along a longitudinal axis, and a second carriage, which is movable along the longitudinal axis together with the first carriage, wherein the second carriage is attached to the first carriage in such an articulated manner that the second carriage is movable with respect to the first carriage. In order to be able to simulate actual accident conditions better, in the test arrangement according to the invention, in addition to at least one first actuating element and at least one second actuating element, there is also provided at least one third actuating element, which is configured to accelerate the second carriage in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A method and a test fixture for evaluating a junction between an electrical lead trace and a busbar are described, and include an electric power supply disposed to supply electric power to the electrical lead trace and an electric monitoring device disposed to monitor electrical potential across the junction. A mechanical stress-inducing device is disposed to apply mechanical stress proximal to the junction. The electric monitoring device monitors the electrical potential across the junction of the electrical lead trace coincident with the mechanical stress-inducing device applying mechanical stress proximal to the junction when the electric power supply is supplying electric power to the electrical lead trace. Electrical integrity of the junction is evaluated based upon the monitored electrical potential across the junction.

An impact test system includes a head model having a head exterior component; a skull component; a brain component; a fluid component; an interior cavity surface; and a translucent cover, wherein the head model is coupled with a mount, the brain component and fluid components are configured within the interior cavity, and wherein the translucent cover is configured over a portion of the brain component and fluid component. A mount is configured to a least partially restrain the head model. A camera is configured to take a plurality of images of the brain and the fluid components through the translucent cover when the head model is under an impact force.

An impact control system includes a supporting structure with gravity compensation mechanism, and a supporting bed which is supported by the supporting structure and supports an impact target. Here, the supporting structure includes an elastic element, a vertical support to which one end of the elastic element is fixed, a horizontal support to which the other end of the elastic element is fixed, and which is rotatable around a rotation axis disposed at one end of the horizontal support meeting an end of the vertical support, and a weight support part which is connected to the other end of the horizontal support and supports the supporting bed while contacting a lower surface of the supporting bed.

A method for determining a quality of a friction stir welded seam is described. The method involves applying an impact to a welded plate and comparing its damping capacity with the damping capacity of a geometrically equivalent defect-free plate. Damping capacities that differ by a small percent difference indicate that the welded plate is also defect-free. This method is particularly advantageous when dealing with small defects, which produce miniscule changes in natural frequency which may not be measureable.

The invention involves a method for testing a damage tolerance property in an aluminum alloy part with the following steps: measure at least one property representative of a the part's tensile strength; use the property measured in step a) as input datum (x.sub.i) of a neural network estimator; estimate, using the estimator, the representative property of the part's tensile strength; the method being characterized in that it includes: consideration of an acceptance threshold and comparison of the property estimated at step c) to the acceptance threshold, taking into account a confidence interval; based on the comparison: consider that the part passes the test; or consider that the part does not pass the test.

A collision simulation test apparatus including a table to which a test piece is to be attached, the table being movable in a predetermined direction, a toothed belt for transmitting power to drive the table, a drive module capable of driving the toothed belt, and a control part capable of controlling the drive module. The control part is capable of controlling the drive module to generate an impact to be applied to the test piece, and the impact generated by the drive module is transmitted to the table by the toothed belt.