The present grip design includes a two-piece clamp with an interior space which forms a mold for the sample material. The two-piece clamp further includes undercut apertures which engage complementary tapered portions of upper and lower grips. The sample material can be poured to fill the mold formed within the two-piece clamp. The interior of the upper and lower grips includes a pattern, such as, but not limited to, a threaded pattern, in order to more firmly engage the sample. The samples may include soft materials, liquids, gels, compounds, powdered or similar materials. The grip may be used in connection with bioreactor or materials testing applications.

The invention relates to a device for testing a ceramic socket insert for hip joint implants having a receiving device, a pressure piece and optionally having a plunger, wherein the receiving device has a recess with a positioning region for receiving the socket insert and the recess has a receiving cone in the positioning region. According to the invention, in order for the device to be universally applicable to all socket inserts (monolithic, modular, pre-joined) and therefore replace all current devices, an annular ductile adapter piece having a conical outer surface contacting the receiving cone and an inner surface contacting the socket insert is arranged in the positioning region between the receiving device and the socket insert, wherein the friction between the receiving device and adapter piece is lower than between the adapter piece and socket insert.

An example material testing apparatus includes: guide means; sample holding means for holding a sample; force means for applying force to the sample; a crosshead arranged to support at least a portion of one or both of the sample holding means and the force means, wherein the crosshead is moveable about the guide means; automated clamping means configured to apply a releasable clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead to secure the crosshead at a location with respect to the guide means, and a controller configured to control the automated clamping means to apply the clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead.

An apparatus and method to strength test porous ceramic honeycomb bodies. The apparatus includes an interlayer between at least one platen and a surface of the high porosity honeycomb body to be tested. The method includes disposing at least one interlayer between at least one platen and an end face of the body, applying a force to the high porosity ceramic honeycomb body and monitoring a result of applying the force. The interlayer comprises a surface weight of about 350 g/m.sup.2 and a thickness in a direction N between facing surfaces load platens of at least about 20 mm. Axial and radial localized stamping tests also strength test porous ceramic honeycomb bodies.

An example material testing apparatus includes: guide means; sample holding means for holding a sample; force means for applying force to the sample; a crosshead arranged to support at least a portion of one or both of the sample holding means and the force means, wherein the crosshead is moveable about the guide means; automated clamping means configured to apply a releasable clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead to secure the crosshead at a location with respect to the guide means, and a controller configured to control the automated clamping means to apply the clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead.

An apparatus and method to strength test porous ceramic honeycomb bodies. The apparatus includes an interlayer between at least one platen and a surface of the high porosity honeycomb body to be tested. The method includes disposing at least one interlayer between at least one platen and an end face of the body, applying a force to the high porosity ceramic honeycomb body and monitoring a result of applying the force. The interlayer comprises a surface weight of about 350 g/m.sup.2 and a thickness in a direction N between facing surfaces load platens of at least about 20 mm. Axial and radial localized stamping tests also strength test porous ceramic honeycomb bodies.

A sample mounting device for direct tensile test of rock mass is provided, which includes a first positioning stage, a second positioning stage, a first support piece, a second support piece, and a screw drive mechanism. The second positioning stage is arranged above the first positioning stage and capable of moving up and down, and cushion blocks for gluing with the rock mass are coaxially and detachably arranged at opposite ends of the first positioning stage and the second positioning stage, and a rock mass mounting area is formed between the two cushion blocks. A screw of the screw drive mechanism includes a first thread segment and a second thread segment with opposite thread directions. The first support piece is connected with the first thread segment through a nut seat, and the second support piece is connected with the second thread segment through a nut seat.

A large-space high-temperature and high-pressure true triaxial flexible loading device includes a cylinder reaction frame, which includes a cylinder, a lower shear ring, an upper shear ring, a bottom cover, and a top cover, wherein the bottom cover and the top cover are detachably mounted at a bottom and a top inside the cylinder respectively, and an interior of the cylinder is divided to form a loading space for performing a triaxial test on a square test block; the lower shear ring is detachably embedded on an inner wall of the cylinder below the bottom cover; the upper shear ring is detachably embedded on the inner wall of the cylinder above the top cover; a confining pressure reaction frame, mounted in the loading space around the square test block; and, flexible loading mechanisms, disposed in pairs at two opposed side surfaces of the square test block.