Aspects of the technology relate to an apparatus and method for testing a material for use in a lighter-than-air craft deployable in the stratosphere. The apparatus and method may include and use a base plate and at least one ring component to attach to the base plate to secure a portion of the material. The at least one ring component has an elliptical shape including a minor radius having a first predetermined length and a major radius having a second predetermined length. The base plate receives a gas to inflate and pressurize the portion of the material. The first predetermined length and second predetermined length are selected to impart a stress ratio up to a predetermined maximum ratio onto the portion of the material through a predetermined temperature range when the portion of the material is inflated to a predetermined pressure.

A device for analyzing a physical characteristic of a film sample is described herein. The device includes a clamping system configured to hold the film sample. The device further includes a dart probe system configured to test a physical characteristic of the film sample. The dart probe system has a dart probe, a propulsion system configured to move the dart probe relative to the clamping system, and a force sensor configured to measure a force that the dart probe is subjected to during a movement of the dart probe. The force sensor is configured to measure a force imparted to the film sample when the dart probe comes in contact with the film sample.

Apparatus for inspecting the tension of a tape adhered to an annular frame having, in the center thereof, an opening for accommodating a wafer includes: a frame support section that supports the annular frame, a light source that applies light toward the tape, an imaging camera that captures, through the tape, the light applied from the light source, a first polarizing plate disposed between the tape and the light source, and a second polarizing plate disposed between the tape and the imaging camera and positioned so as to shield the light of linearly polarized light transmitted through the first polarizing plate. If distortion is generated in a polarization plane of the light due to application, onto the tape, of the light of the linearly polarized light transmitted through the first polarizing plate, the light is transmitted through the second polarizing plate, and the imaging camera images the transmitted light.

A method and a system for analyzing a physical characteristic of a film sample are described herein. The system includes a material holder system configured to hold the film sample; a dart testing system configured to test a physical characteristic of the film sample; and a moving system configured to move the held film sample to be analyzed or tested between stations. The moving system is configured to move the held film sample in the material holder system to the dart testing system.

A borehole shear test apparatus of the present disclosure includes a main casing, a horizontal loading module and shear plates, and performs both a borehole shear test and a borehole jack test by calculating and measuring horizontal displacement produced at a borehole wall when pressed by the shear plates, and at the same time, measuring a vertical load applied when a wedge element moves down.

A method and a system for analyzing a physical characteristic of a film sample are described herein. The system includes a material holder system configured to hold the film sample; a dart testing system configured to test a physical characteristic of the film sample; and a moving system configured to move the held film sample to be analyzed or tested between stations. The moving system is configured to move the held film sample in the material holder system to the dart testing system.

A borehole shear test apparatus of the present disclosure includes a main casing, a horizontal loading module and shear plates, and performs both a borehole shear test and a borehole jack test by calculating and measuring horizontal displacement produced at a borehole wall when pressed by the shear plates, and at the same time, measuring a vertical load applied when a wedge element moves down.

A device for analyzing a physical characteristic of a film sample is described herein. The device includes a clamping system configured to hold the film sample. The device further includes a dart probe system configured to test a physical characteristic of the film sample. The dart probe system has a dart probe, a propulsion system configured to move the dart probe relative to the clamping system, and a force sensor configured to measure a force that the dart probe is subjected to during a movement of the dart probe. The force sensor is configured to measure a force imparted to the film sample when the dart probe comes in contact with the film sample.

The present invention relates to a wheel clamping system for reversibly clamping a motor vehicle wheel with a rim onto a wheel servicing machine, wherein the wheel clamping system comprises at least one force measuring device for measuring the value of a clamping force exerted by the wheel clamping system on a rim of a motor vehicle wheel held on the main shaft.

A system for assessing the distribution of shear forces at fixation points on a textile-based implant includes a tissue model, a load simulation device, and an analysis system. The tissue model includes an upper surface defining an opening therethrough and a fixation support configured to secure a textile-based implant against the upper surface at a plurality of fixation points defined along a plane of the upper surface. The load simulation device is configured to apply a load to a textile-based implant that is secured to the tissue model. A marker is disposed on the fixation support at one or more of the plurality of fixation points. The analysis system is configured to calculate a shear force vector at each of the fixation points where a marker is disposed in response to the load applied by the load simulation device.