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NCAL: Intermediate Strain Rate Test Machine
An intermediate strain rate test machine is available in the NIST Center for Automotive Lightweighting. The actuator for this test machine can move at speeds up to 15 m/s, and will reach a constant speed before engaging with the test specimen. Strain rates on the order of 1 s-1 to 400 s-1 can be achieved, bridging the capabilities of the conventional uniaxial servo-hydraulic test machines and a Klosky bar.
In addition to the test machine capabilities listed below, the default configuration includes:
- A stereo Digital Image Correlation (DIC) strain mapping system
Specifications/Capabilities
Testing Machine Capabilities:
- One hydraulic axial actuator
- Axial Force, Displacement, or Open-Loop control
- 5 kN to 10 kN max. axial force (strain rate limited)
- Actuator up to 15 m/s mm
- Max. Strain Rate ≈ 500 1/s
- Stereo-DIC with camera resolution of 256 x 1024 pixels at 21 kHz
- Optional furnace temperature control
The instrument pages for NCAL DIC Measurement Systems include details of the DIC systems that can be used on this frame.