A controller of a hardness tester can determine, in a condition where a driver is not in operation and when a spring displacement detector and an arm displacement detector detect an amount of displacement of respective objects (plate spring and loading arm), that a loading arm and a plate spring are deformed according to changes in environmental temperature. A favorable hardness test can be performed by the hardness tester corresponding to the environmental temperature according to the determination by carrying out an initialization process that resets the displacement amount of respective object to zero, the displacement amount detected by the spring displacement detector and the arm displacement detector respectively.

Apparatus and method for testing a sheet of brittle material comprising the steps of measuring one or more edge features of a sheet of brittle material, imparting a bend to the sheet of brittle material and producing relative motion between the sheet and the bend such that the bend traverses the sheet. A stress can be induced in the sheet as a function of the relative motion and imparted bend, wherein the induced stress corresponds to a predetermined strength value, and the measured one or more edge features can be correlated with the strength value.

The invention relates to measurement technology and is intended for measuring the shape, the internal dimensions and the flexibility of shoes. The proposed measurement method consists in using probes with indicators, which create tension on the measured surface. A camera and a flat marking band are used for tracing the shape of the internal surface of a shoe. On the basis of the sum of the images, a three-dimensional model of the internal surface of the tested shoe is made, and the flexibility properties are determined by scanning the object with different forces. A device comprises a body, a camera mounted therein, two or more probes with indicators, and a flat marking band. The invention makes it possible to increase accuracy and to reduce the labor intensiveness and time of measurements.

Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.

A method of inspecting and determining characteristics of an aluminized coating of a hot stamped part is provided. The method includes removing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), analyzing the sample using GDOES, and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph. The method further includes determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect and where the points of intersection indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating. The characteristics of the method include, by way of example, a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability.

A loading device, a monitoring system, and a method thereof can measure stiffness of a structural member (SM), such as a bone, and monitor progress or property over time. The loading device includes two types of displacement sensors, one type being an antenna. As the SM, which is in a magnetic or electromagnetic field and electromagnetically coupled to the antenna without contact, undergoes displacement under known loads, characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM change over time due to the displacement of the SM. The shift in the characteristics of the electromagnetic field coupling between the antenna and the SM can be used to determine the displacement of the SM. Based on the changes in the displacement over time, diagnosis of the SM being monitored over an evaluation period can be made.

A method of inspecting and determining characteristics of an aluminized coating of a hot stamped part is provided. The method includes removing a sample from the hot stamped part for Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry (GDOES), analyzing the sample using GDOES, and plotting constituent element weight percentages versus depth on a graph. The method further includes determining points on the graph where constituent elements intersect and where the points of intersection indicate the characteristics of the aluminized coating. The characteristics of the method include, by way of example, a total thickness of the aluminized coating, a thickness of an inter-diffusion layer (IDL), constituents of the aluminized coating, constituents of the hot stamped part, phase composition of the aluminized coating, surface oxidation, and weldability.

An electric-hydraulic Brinell hardness testing head and a portable electric-hydraulic Brinell hardness tester. A controller, a battery pack and a motor are mounted on a hydraulic integrated block, an electric plunger pump is mounted in the hydraulic integrated block, and a check valve is mounted in a cartridge valve seat, which are advantageous in that by controlling the motor-driven miniature electric plunger pump with the controller to realize durable force applying, stability and accuracy of test force within retention time are realized, so that the test principle, the test force accuracy, an indication error, and a repeatability error of hardness measurement results comply with relevant domestic and foreign standards; and have the characteristics of simple measurement operations, quick measurement process, high efficiency, accurate test results, and high reliability, thereby ensuring the basic requirements for miniaturization, lightweight, and on-site use of portable hardness testers.

The present disclosure provides for a guide for use in a compression test, the compression test comprising loading a test sample between a first loading plate and an opposing load applied between the test sample and the first loading plate in a loading direction, the guide comprising: at least one support member, positionable between the first loading plate and the load and extending substantially parallel to the loading direction to constrain the test sample in a direction perpendicular to the loading direction, wherein, when in use, the at least one support member is positioned to define a space between the first loading plate and the support member such that when a load is applied the test sample is deformable in a direction perpendicular to the loading direction within the space.

A sensor device for detecting static modulus of elasticity in situ comprising: top and bottom frame end plates, said top and bottom frame end plates connected by at least two frame side bars; a dry cavity connected to said top frame end plate comprising a piston, precompression mechanism, and piston transfer plate; a displacement measurement gauge extending from said dry cavity along a longitudinal axis of said sensor device having a first end in contact with said piston transfer plate and a second end in contact with a bottom inner face of said bottom frame end plate; and a top inner face connected to said piston transfer plate, wherein a portion of elastomeric material is positioned on said bottom and top inner faces, said elastomeric material positioned to prevent contact with either bottom or top inner faces except for a portion along the longitudinal axis of the displacement measurement gauge.