Tension and compression testing for education in solid mechanics

Solution

• MultiTest-5-XT touchscreen-controlled test stand.
• Wide range of grips suitable for both tension and compression applications.

Benefits

• Supports clear, hands-on demonstration of core engineering principles.
• Enables multiple material property tests on a single platform.
• Pre-programmed methods allow repeat testing with minimal setup time.
• A compact, user-friendly system designed for academic environments, offering flexibility for different materials and custom fixtures while fitting within limited laboratory space.

Requirement

A leading academic department specializing in bioengineering required advanced testing equipment to support teaching in solid mechanics. The field combines aspects of engineering, biomedical science, and clinical applications, producing a necessity of both applied experience and theory.

Learners need to build up good knowledge of how materials respond to load, especially by tensile and compressive tests. It involves the evaluation of stress-strain relations, deformation behavior, and failure mechanisms of a range of materials. It was also necessary that the department be compatible with the already existing custom-built rigs to support special experimental setups.

Given that the curriculum itself is in a continuous state of flux, the solution has to be flexible, easy to use, and capable of delivering accurate and reliable results both in the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of training.

Solution

Presto Stantest offers a touchscreen-controlled general-purpose testing apparatus set up to be used in learning and research settings. The system has a good variety of force measures, as it is fitted with suitable load cell capacity and thus suitable for the testing of materials like metals, polymers, and composites.

The simple touchscreen interface enables the instructors to develop and save predetermined test methods so that the students can do experiments by just choosing the necessary program. The method will guarantee that attention is paid to results interpretation as opposed to dealing with complicated test settings.

The system delivers real-time graphical output of load versus displacement, along with calculated parameters such as Young’s modulus, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength. Data can be exported for further analysis, supporting a deeper understanding of material behavior.

In addition to tensile testing, the equipment is equally effective for compression studies, including applications relevant to biomechanical components and structural analysis. Its compatibility with strain measurement devices further enhances its capability for detailed material evaluation.

Test equipment

• MultiTest 5-xt touchscreen-controlled test stand
• 5 kN intelligent S-beam cell
• Wedge grips and suitable adapters
• Provision for integration with custom-built testing fixtures