A foam backed composite panel having two or more layers of materials adhesively bonded to each other. The panel is comprised of a cementitious material as a face layer and/or an optional core layer backed by polyurethane foam bonded to the face or core layer. The polyurethane foam bonds the panel to a supporting frame. The foam backed panel has increased impact and fire resistance.

A falling weight deflectometer comprising a load plate adapted to engage a test surface, force transmission means adapted to transmit a force to the load plate, buffer means, and a drop weight. The drop weight is adapted to impact the force transmission means via the buffer means so as to provide a force to be transmitted to the load plate via the force transmission means. The falling weight deflectometer further comprises at least one linear electric motor for lifting the drop weight to a predetermined height above the force transmission means.

A falling weight deflectometer comprising a load plate adapted to engage a test surface, force transmission means adapted to transmit a force to the load plate, buffer means, and a drop weight. The drop weight is adapted to impact the force transmission means via the buffer means so as to provide a force to be transmitted to the load plate via the force transmission means. The falling weight deflectometer further comprises at least one linear electric motor for lifting the drop weight to a predetermined height above the force transmission means.

An impact testing machine is configured. The impact testing machine includes: a testing machine body that applies a load having a prescribed speed to a test piece and conducts a test; a controller that controls the testing machine body; a video camera that photographs the test piece; and a pulse generator. The controller includes: a detection signal capturing unit that captures a detection signal of the load in a prescribed measurement sampling period; and a synchronizing signal output unit that outputs a sampling synchronizing signal that is synchronized with the measurement sampling period. The pulse generator includes: a photographing instruction signal generator that generates a photographing instruction signal by multiplying or dividing the sampling synchronizing signal, and outputs the photographing instruction signal to the video camera. The photographing instruction signal issues a photographing instruction to the video camera.

A method and apparatus for improving the accuracy and precision of drop impact sensing data utilized for testing the impact-absorbing capacities of surfaces, especially playground surfaces used by children, for compliance with relevant standards. A head form missile is equipped with onboard sets of high-g and low-g accelerometers for timing a period of free-fall of the missile, as well as for measuring acceleration due to impact at the end of the fall. Optimized results are obtained in a preferred embodiment by exploiting at least four accelerometers. Three of the accelerometers are sized for high-g measurements in each axis (X-, Y-, and Z-axes). At least one low-g accelerometer for (measuring in the Z-axis), or three accelerometers sized for low-g measurements in all axis (X-, Y- and Z-axes) are employed. Accelerometer readings obtained during the zero g free-fall period is used to cancel bias drift on all accelerometers.

A method and apparatus for improving the accuracy and precision of drop impact sensing data utilized for testing the impact-absorbing capacities of surfaces, especially playground surfaces used by children, for compliance with relevant standards. A head form missile is equipped with onboard sets of high-g and low-g accelerometers for timing a period of free-fall of the missile, as well as for measuring acceleration due to impact at the end of the fall. Optimized results are obtained in a preferred embodiment by exploiting at least four accelerometers. Three of the accelerometers are sized for high-g measurements in each axis (X-, Y-, and Z-axes). At least one low-g accelerometer for (measuring in the Z-axis), or three accelerometers sized for low-g measurements in all axis (X-, Y- and Z-axes) are employed. Accelerometer readings obtained during the zero g free-fall period is used to cancel bias drift on all accelerometers.

An apparatus and method for determining the hardness of a granular material, comprises a base plate member, a sample cup for holding the granular material, an upper plate member, a crusher assembly and a crusher hammer release mechanism. The base plate member includes an upper surface with a recess for holding the sample cup. The upper plate member is positioned above and separated from the base plate member utilizing at least one separator post. The crusher assembly includes a crusher shaft, a crusher weight, a crusher hammer and a linear roller bearing having a retaining ring configured to slidably engage the crusher shaft through a conduit with the crusher weight and the crusher hammer positioned above and below the upper plate member respectively. The crusher hammer release mechanism includes a pair of levers operably connected to a latch cable having a latch pin that runs through a compression spring.

An apparatus and method for determining the hardness of a granular material, comprises a base plate member, a sample cup for holding the granular material, an upper plate member, a crusher assembly and a crusher hammer release mechanism. The base plate member includes an upper surface with a recess for holding the sample cup. The upper plate member is positioned above and separated from the base plate member utilizing at least one separator post. The crusher assembly includes a crusher shaft, a crusher weight, a crusher hammer and a linear roller bearing having a retaining ring configured to slidably engage the crusher shaft through a conduit with the crusher weight and the crusher hammer positioned above and below the upper plate member respectively. The crusher hammer release mechanism includes a pair of levers operably connected to a latch cable having a latch pin that runs through a compression spring.

A pallet impact station includes a frame, at least one pendulum swing arm rotatably coupled to the frame, a carriage assembly carried by the at least one pendulum swing arm for impacting a pallet, and a latching mechanism extending between the frame and the at least one pendulum swing arm. The latching mechanism disengages the at least one pendulum swing arm at a raised position so that the carriage assembly impacts the pallet. A controller operates the latching mechanism to disengage the at least one pendulum swing arm.

A method and apparatus for testing the response of protective headgear 104 to impact forces. A high-speed cineradiography imaging system 100 is used to obtain full-field, time-resolved internal monitoring and measurement of headgear component (pads 140 and liners 142) deformation and interaction with a head surrogate (headform 102), deformation of headform components, and stress and strain transfer into the headform. Radiopaque contrast materials (144 & 148) and integration techniques are used to highlight specific regions of interest within the headgear and headform components during the impact loading events.