A test apparatus comprises a probe movably mounted relative to a carrier. The probe comprises an end portion with a surface area of about 5 mm.sup.2 or less. The test apparatus can be used in methods of determining a crush strength of an edge of a substrate. Methods can comprise aligning the probe with a test location of the substrate at a predetermined angle relative to a probe axis. Methods can further comprise applying a mechanical force to the test location with the probe in the direction of the probe axis. Also, methods can comprise increasing the mechanical force applied by the probe until the substrate cracks or a predefined force applied by the probe is reached. Based on the mechanical force applied by the probe, a crush strength of an edge can be determined.

Bend test apparatus (100) for a hydraulic hose (200), the apparatus (100) comprising a main rack (10), at least one sliding rail (11) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and a carriage (13) which is slidable on the sliding rail (11) in the longitudinal direction (L) and which can be displaced by an actuator (20), wherein the apparatus (100) further comprises a first fixture (1) that is rigidly attached to the main rack (10) to retain a first end (201) of the hydraulic hose (200) and a second fixture (2) that is rigidly attached to the carriage (13) to retain a second end (201) of the hydraulic hose (200), and wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a load cell (30) that is attached between the carriage (13) and the actuator (20) so as to detect a force (F) which is applied via the actuator (20) onto the carriage (13) and thereby onto the hydraulic hose (200) in the longitudinal direction (L).

A method is provided for increasing accuracy in measuring complex Young's modulus and complex shear modulus of a material using a processing system. The material is tested to obtain an experimental frequency response transfer function of normal displacement to input force. A model panel is developed in the processing system as a modeled frequency response transfer function. The modeled transfer function is used at a range of fixed frequencies to calculate displacements of the model panel divided by the input force while varying material parameters. The modeled frequency response transfer function is compared with the experimental frequency response transfer function to compute error function values. These values indicate the most accurate material property values as those minimizing the computed error function values.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a hardness meter which estimates hardness in a stable manner regardless of a compression strength. A hardness meter includes: 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; a motive force mechanism that causes the movable portion to perform a piston motion; a hardness estimating portion which estimates the hardness of the object on the basis of an alternating current component of the output signal, generated by the piston motion; a position estimating portion which estimates a measurement position information by shooting with a camera; and a hardness map display portion which maps and displays the hardness on a schematic diagram of the surface of a living body based on the measurement position information.

A glass strength evaluation apparatus includes a support unit, a plate disposed on the support unit and including a surface on which a glass article, which is a target to be tested, is disposed, a fixing jig disposed on the plate and a power unit lifting up or down the fixing jig in a vertical direction toward the surface of the plate. The fixing jig includes a body portion, which extends in the vertical direction and lower fixing bolts. A press-fitting member insertion opening is recessed from a bottom of the body portion to extend in an upward direction, lower fixing bolt insertion holes penetrate the body portion, from one side of the body portion, in a first horizontal direction intersecting the vertical direction, to be extended to the press-fitting insertion opening, and lower fixing bolts are coupled into the lower fixing bolt insertion holes.

A load control method of an indenter based on fuzzy predictive control and a system, acquiring the actual measured force value of a sensor in the loading stage; acquiring the expected force value of the nth cycle in the loading stage; calculating a first error and a change rate; establishing and optimizing a fuzzy predictive controller; determining the movement steps of a motor in the loading stage; acquiring the actual measured value of the sensor in the full load stage; acquiring the expected force value of the nth cycle in the full load stage and calculating a second error; controlling the movement of the motor; acquiring the actual measured force value of the sensor in the unloading stage; acquiring the expected force value of the nth cycle in the unloading stage; calculating a third error and a change rate; determining the movement steps of the motor in the unloading stage.

A system for testing blade sharpness comprises a mounting arrangement for mounting a material to be cut; a force measuring device operable, in use, to determine variations in force along a blade as parts of the blade contact the material; and a control system. The control system is adapted to receive a signal that a blade sharpness test is to be performed; in response to the signal, prepare the mounting arrangement for a blade sharpness test; detect when force on the material rises above a pre-determined level; detect when the blade sharpness test is completed; and provide an indication of the force of the blade on the material.

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.

A twin-disc tribometer assembly includes a first sample drive shaft arranged to receive a first sample disc and a second sample drive shaft arranged to receive a second sample disc; a first drive motor configured to rotate the first drive shaft and a second motor arranged to rotate the second drive shaft. The first and second drive shafts are configured to be positioned relative to each other such that a sample disc mounted on the first drive shaft will make a point contact with a sample disc on the second drive shaft as the drive shafts rotate. The assembly is configured to allow the shafts to rotate relative to each other in a non-continuous reciprocating motion or a non-collinear motion where one sample disc is tilted with respect to the other.

A loading device, a monitoring system, and a method thereof can measure stiffness of a structural member (SM) and monitor progress or property thereof 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. The loading device includes at least one movable frame to apply a preload to the SM.