The invention relates to a test piece for determining a specific material property of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite under applied mechanical loading. According to the invention, it is provided that an inner core is incorporated in a composite with the fiber-reinforced plastic, the inner core being widened in a transverse axis in relation to the mechanical load in such a way that the composite with the inner core has a greater buckling stability than a comparative body, such as the composite without the inner core, and that the inner core is formed in such a way that an influence on the specific material property to be determined of the fiber-reinforced plastic composite lies in a range of acceptance.

A strain testing rig for an elongate specimen has a first grip for the first end portion of the specimen, a second grip for the second end portion of the specimen, and a drive mechanism for moving the first grip away from the second grip to stretch the specimen lengthwise. The first grip and the second grip are configured to maintain a grip on the specimen as the cross section of the specimen decreases during stretching. Each of the first grip and the second grip can include a tapered dog, a press for compressing the respective end portion of the specimen, and a clamp for clamping the respective end portion of the specimen in a direction perpendicular to the action of the clamp. A method of testing strain characteristics can involve using digital image correlation to separately measure strain on each of the at least three independent strain zones.

The present invention provides a standard testing methodology for making quantitative determinations as to the chemical resistance of thermoplastics commonly used for non-disposable medical devices by evaluating the retention of tensile and/or impact properties of the thermoplastic materials after exposure to chemicals associated with healthcare grade disinfectants. Versions of the test methods may be used with any of a variety of different thermoplastic materials, each having a different stiffness or elastic modulus; and versions of the test methods may be used with any of a variety of different hospital grade cleaning agents or disinfectants. Using the methodology of embodiments of the present invention, different thermoplastic materials may be tested against different cleaners or disinfectants to provide a uniform basis for comparison. This allows those who make chemicals, polymers and medical equipment to have a uniform way of evaluating those materials for compatibility with various cleaners and disinfectants used in the medical industry to make objective comparisons, and to allow end users to make the same evaluations and comparisons.

The present invention provides a standard testing methodology for making quantitative determinations as to the chemical resistance of thermoplastics commonly used for non-disposable medical devices by evaluating the retention of tensile and/or impact properties of the thermoplastic materials after exposure to chemicals associated with healthcare grade disinfectants. Versions of the test methods may be used with any of a variety of different thermoplastic materials, each having a different stiffness or elastic modulus; and versions of the test methods may be used with any of a variety of different hospital grade cleaning agents or disinfectants. Using the methodology of embodiments of the present invention, different thermoplastic materials may be tested against different cleaners or disinfectants to provide a uniform basis for comparison. This allows those who make chemicals, polymers and medical equipment to have a uniform way of evaluating those materials for compatibility with various cleaners and disinfectants used in the medical industry to make objective comparisons, and to allow end users to make the same evaluations and comparisons.

Disclosed is a test rig and a method for mechanical load testing of a specimen extending along a longitudinal axis from a first specimen end to a second specimen end and comprising a composite material extending along the longitudinal axis from a first composite end to a second composite end and a primary elongate component extending along the longitudinal axis from a first primary component end to a second primary component end, the first primary component end being the first specimen end, and wherein the composite material encapsulates the primary elongate component along a first interface region extending along the longitudinal axis from the second primary component end to the first composite end. The method comprises applying a load to the specimen resulting in an axial load component and a bending moment being imposed to the specimen.

The disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for uniaxial testing of a solid specimen, such as an asphalt or asphalt concrete specimen. The apparatus provides a simplified and accelerated procedure for mounting and testing asphalt mixture samples and other solid specimens under uniaxial tension and/or compression, in particular to measure corresponding uniaxial strain and/or fatigue in the specimen. The apparatus incorporates two opposing collet-chuck elements to rapidly mount and fixedly hold a solid specimen in place in a loading system to apply uniaxial loads. The disclosure further relates to an off-specimen means for measuring strain in a specimen using optical imaging in which successive time series images of a specimen during uniaxial loading can be analyzed to determine displacements and corresponding strains.

Testing apparatuses and methods, such as for testing flexural characteristics of beams. Such a testing apparatus has opposing first and second specimen holders that are spaced apart and define a gap therebetween for a test specimen. The specimen holders include elongate slots and loading fixtures are disposed in the slots so that the loading fixtures maintain contact with the slots when urging the specimen holders in either of two opposite directions. The testing apparatus can thereby capture flexural information during both loading and unloading without having to reposition the test specimen or other components of the testing apparatus because the loading fixtures stay engaged with the specimen holders within the slots in both directions.