In one version there is provided a test system including a layup tool having a layup surface, and two fairing bars attached to the layup surface. The test system includes the composite laminate having a plurality of stacked plies, and positioned between the two fairing bars. The test system includes fiber distortion initiator(s) positioned at one or more locations under, and adjacent to, one or more plies of the plurality of stacked plies. The test system includes two caul plates with a gap in between, and positioned over the composite laminate. When the test system undergoes a pressurized cure process with a vacuum compaction, a restricted outward expansion of the plurality of stacked plies by the fairing bars, and a pressure differential region formed by the one or more fiber distortion initiators at the one or more locations, create the controlled and repeatable out-of-plane fiber distortion in the composite laminate.

A method of marking a hydrated tissue specimen for mechanical testing is provided. The method includes adding a metal nanoparticle precursor solution to a reducing agent solution to form a mixture; incubating the mixture to form a plurality of aggregated metal nanoparticles, where each of the aggregated metal nanoparticles includes a plurality of individual metal nanoparticles; separating the plurality of aggregated metal nanoparticles from a supernatant by means of centrifugation or gravitational settling; resuspending the plurality of aggregated metal nanoparticles in a buffer solution to form a colloidal metal nanoparticle suspension; and soaking the hydrated tissue specimen in the colloidal metal nanoparticle suspension, where at least a portion of the plurality of aggregated metal nanoparticles adhere to the hydrated tissue specimen in a random pattern of speckles.

A method of managing a tubular having a seam that exhibits signs of hydrogen induced cracking that extends radially along the seam, and which is different from classic step-wise cracking. Included in the method is evaluating the strength and ductility specimens taken from the tubular that have been hydrogen charged; and which provides an indication if the seam is susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. The strength is evaluated by comparing tensile strength of the hydrogen charged specimen with that specified in an industry standard, such as API 5L. The ductility is evaluated based on comparing percent elongation of the hydrogen charged specimen with percent elongation of a specimen obtained from the tubular and not hydrogen charged. Tubulars with seams found susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement would not be put into sour service, whereas those found not susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement can be put in a sour service.

The invention discloses a method for obtaining the geometrical and mechanical parameters of rock samples and a holographic scanning system thereof, wherein the system includes an observation mechanism, a multi-scale penetration mechanism, a grinding mechanism, a rock sample installation mechanism arranged on a three-axis precision motion platform, and an industrial computer controlling the operation mode of each mechanism of the platform Indentation/rotary penetration test, pulse echo signal acquisition, three-dimensional surface topography reconstruction, layer by layer grinding and repeated experiments are carried out. The geometric parameters and corresponding mechanical field parameters are obtained by spatial interpolation of the three-dimensional parameter lattice accumulated by several layers of single-layer rock parameters. The holographic scanning system and method can obtain the real spatial distribution of various media in rock samples. Combined with high performance numerical calculation method, it provides a more scientific method for the analysis of rock mechanical properties, failure and instability.

The device for preparing sheet specimens comprises a base (1) for placing on it a sheet specimen (2) and a cutting punch (3) for cutting sheared cracks or sharp notches in said sheet specimen (2). Preferably, said cutting punch (3) comprises a beveled lower end (31) and/or a central vertical groove (32). Permits the cracks to be formed cutting directly the sheet, and not by cyclic loading, so that the preparation of the sheet specimen takes a reduced time in comparison with the conventional devices.

A specimen preparation method for eliminating a membrane penetration effect on a highly-weathered rock, wherein the method makes an originally uneven surface of a specimen smooth using a cured liquid latex as a filler, thereby eliminating a membrane penetration effect on a highly-weathered rock, and comprises the following specimen preparation steps: specimen cutting, pit filling, surface smoothing, specimen shaping and specimen loading.

A test method of accurately evaluating wear resistance performance of a rubber material when used as a tread rubber of a tire, comprises the steps of: preparing a test piece of the rubber material having a ground contact surface extending in a circumferential direction; abrading the ground contact surface by rolling the test piece on a running surface of a wear testing machine at a slip ratio of not more than 3.5%; and evaluating the wear resistance performance of the test piece by comparing the amount of wear of the test piece with a predetermined threshold value.

Controlled manufacture and nano-level evaluation of kerogen-rich reservoir rock can be implemented as a method. A clay mineral found in kerogen-rich shale is selected. An organic component found in kerogen-rich shale is selected. Multiple concentrations of the clay mineral are selected. Multiple concentrations of the organic component are selected. Multiple kerogen-rich shale samples are fabricated. Each sample includes a first concentration of the multiple concentrations of the clay mineral and a second concentration of the multiple concentrations of the organic component. A microscale beam is formed of each fabricated sample. A maximum dimension of the microscale beam is at most 100 μm. A mechanical experiment is performed on the microscale beam of each fabricated sample. The mechanical experiment includes a tension test or a compression test. The mechanical experiment on the microscale beam of each fabricated sample is imaged using a scanning electron microscope or a transmission electron microscope. A material parameter of the microscale beam of each fabricated sample is determined based on results of the mechanical experiment and images obtained responsive to the imaging. Effects of the clay mineral on the kerogen-rich shale are determined based on the material parameter of the microscale beam of each fabricated sample.

A system for mechanical testing a specimen includes a 3D printed mechanical testing fixture; a linear actuator having an axis of movement; a controller configured to control the linear actuator; two cameras; a data-acquisition system configured to acquire data from the linear actuator, the controller, and the two cameras; and the specimen. The specimen is marked in two locations with tracking markers to provide indication to the data acquisition system via at least one camera of movement and change in length of the specimen. The fixture includes force-sensing beams extending perpendicular to the axis of force

A method of manufacturing a part includes melting, rapidly solidifying and consolidating pre-alloyed powders using an additive manufacturing process. The method provides a finished part with a microstructure with at least one non-equilibrium phase. The pre-alloyed powders can be powders of aluminum alloyed with iron and molybdenum, and the additive manufacturing process forms a near-net shaped part that can be finished with techniques such as machining, polishing and drilling, among others. The additive manufacturing process can be a laser melting technique such as selective laser melting or laser metal deposition and an average dendrite arm spacing of the rapidly solidified and consolidate pre-alloyed powders is less than 1.0 μm. Finished parts formed from the aluminum alloy powders alloyed with iron and molybdenum exhibit enhanced strength at elevated temperatures such as an ultimate tensile strength greater than 400 MPa at 300° C. and greater than 350 MPa at 350° C.