An indentation head system for an indentation instrument includes: an indenter tip contacting a sample surface along at least an indentation axis; a reference element supporting the tip; a zero-level sensor generating a signal indicating whether the tip is displaced with respect to the reference element from a neutral relative position; an elastic element between the tip and an actuator with known elongation, the actuator connected to the reference element; and a controller receiving signals from the zero-level sensor to perform servo control of the actuator based on output of the zero-level sensor and the known elongation of the actuator so the zero-level sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a substantially zero displacement of the tip from the neutral relative position, the controller calculating a force applied by the tip to the sample based on an output of the displacement sensor and an elastic coefficient of the elastic element.

In a case where control input is performed via a low-pass filter, a control gain more appropriate for both stability and responsiveness is set according to setting of the low-pass filter. A control unit (21) performs control input for a load mechanism (40) via a low-pass filter, discriminates a stability of a control system including the load mechanism (40) and the low-pass filter when setting of the low-pass filter is changed, sets an appropriate control gain based on a maximum control gain at which an excess amount of a measured value with respect to a target value is equal to or less than a predetermined value within a range where that the control system is stable, and controls an operation of the load mechanism (40) by using the appropriate control gain.

There is provided a material testing machine that a control device of the material testing machine includes a detection circuit which extracts a resistance component caused by the physical quantity and a capacitive component caused by an electrostatic capacitance of the cable from a measurement signal from the detector, a memory element which stores a normal capacitive component extracted by the detection circuit, and a comparator which compares the current capacitive component extracted by the detection circuit with the normal capacitive component, and when a comparison result from the comparator indicates that a value of the current capacitive component varies beyond a predetermined allowable range with respect to the normal capacitive component, it is treated that the cable is disconnected, and a disconnection warning is provided.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a hardness meter which estimates hardness in a stable manner regardless of a compression strength. Disclosed is a hardness meter characterized in being provided with: a movable portion which is continuously pressed against an object to be measured; a sensor which outputs an output signal reflecting a reaction force at a part of the object to be measured that is in contact with the movable portion; a motive force mechanism that causes the movable portion to perform a piston motion; and a hardness estimating portion which estimates the hardness of the object to be measured on the basis of an alternating current component of the output signal, generated by the piston motion of the movable portion.

The present disclosure generally relates to a suspension-based impact test system for testing impact of a testing object against an impacting object. The impact test system includes components to couple the testing object to a suspension arm through a coupling member, and the suspension arm interfaces a motion-guiding mechanism. The impact test system generally includes a detachment mechanism for releasing the testing object from the suspension arm when initiated by a release system. The testing object releases from the constraints such that the testing object can move freely just prior to contacting the impacting object.

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.

A durability testing fixture, system and method for testing a medical device. The testing fixture include a stabilizing member, an inflatable member and a pressure controller. The inflatable member is positioned adjacent the stabilizing member and defines a bore therein, the bore sized to hold the medical device. The inflatable member is configured to receive and release a fluid so that the inflatable member is respectively inflatable and deflatable to radially displace an inner surface of the bore. The pressure controller is coupled to the inflatable member and is configured to control inflation and deflation of the inflatable member to radially displace the inner surface of the bore and to apply a force directly along an outer radially extending surface of the medical device.

An example flexible substrate testing system includes: a first substrate support structure configured to hold a first portion of a flexible substrate under test; a second substrate support structure configured to hold a second portion of the flexible substrate; one or more actuators configured to move the first and second substrate support structures at respective angles to fold the flexible substrate; and load cells configured to measure loads on the first substrate support structure and the second substrate support structure while the actuator moves the first substrate support structure and the second substrate support structure.

An example flexible substrate testing system includes: a first substrate support structure configured to hold stationary a first portion of a flexible substrate under test; a second substrate support structure configured to hold a second portion of the flexible substrate; an actuator configured to move the second substrate support structure to fold the flexible substrate and to unfold the flexible substrate; and a load cell configured to measure a load on the flexible substrate.

Investigating the permeability and porosity of geological samples is a routine element of geological studies, and is of particular interest in the oil and gas industry. Core-flood experiments are commonly performed on rock samples to measure transport characteristics in the laboratory. This disclosure reports the design and implementation of a high resolution distributed pressure measurement system for core-flood experiments. A series of microfabricated pressure sensors can be embedded in bolts that are housed within the pressurized polymer sheath that encases a rock core. A feedthrough technology has been developed to provide lead transfer between the sensors and system electronics across a 230-bar pressure difference. The system has been successfully benchtop tested with fluids such as synthetic oil and/or gas. Pressure measurements were recorded over a dynamic range of 20 bar with a resolution as small as 0.3 mbar.