Name: a novel biaxial testing apparatus for the determination of forming limit under hot stamping conditions
Uploaded: 2017-04-04T12:30:00.000+00:00
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Novel Biaxial Testing Apparatus for the Determination of Forming Limit under Hot Stamping Conditions at JoVE.com

This research was supported by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement No. 604240, project title "An industrial system enabling the use of a patented, lab-proven materials processing technology for Low Cost forming of Lightweight structures for transportation industries (LoCoLite)."

1. Preparation of Specimens
<ol>
	<li>Machine flat dog-bone and cruciform specimens from commercial material aluminum alloy 6082 (AA6082) using a laser cutter and a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine (for formability tests at different strain paths including uniaxial, plane strain, and equi-biaxial straining states).</li>
	<li>Measure the thickness of each cruciform specimen and each dog-bone specimen with a vernier caliper three times in the central gauge region and calculate the average values. Ensure that the thickness of the gauge section in a cruciform specimen is 0.7 &#177; 0.05 mm and that the thickness of the uniaxial specimen is 1.5 &#177; 0.1 mm.</li>
	<li>Spray-paint the entire top surface of a cruciform specimen by using a flame-resistant, black spray paint (capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,093 &#176;C). Wait until the paint dries and then spray flame-resistant, white paint dots from arm&#39;s length to create a stochastic spraying pattern to be recognized by the DIC system (see the example in Figure 1).</li>
	<li>Weld a pair of thermocouples to the center of the back surface (opposite to the painted surface) of the specimen. Connect the other end of the thermocouple to the feedback temperature control system of the uniaxial testing machine to monitor and control the temperature change history.</li>
</ol>
2. Assembly of the Biaxial Testing Apparatus
<ol>
	<li>Assemble all parts of the biaxial testing apparatus, including a base plate, a central shaft, input and output rotatable plates, carriages, a clamp, guide rails, and rigid connecting rods (the assembled apparatus is shown in Figure 2).
	<ol>
		<li>Using a connecting rod, couple the input rotatable plate directly to the movable jaw of a resistance heating uniaxial tensile test machine, which provides the uniaxial tensile force. Couple the input rotatable plate to the central drive shaft and couple this central drive shaft to the output rotatable plate.</li>
		<li>Ensure that the rotation of the input rotatable plate around the axis of rotation rotates the drive shaft, thereby rotating the output rotatable plate to which it is coupled around the axis of rotation.</li>
		<li>At one end, couple each of the rigid connecting rods to one of the connection points on the output rotatable plate. Couple the other end to one of the carriages. 
		NOTE: This will cause the carriages with specimen holders to slide back and forth along the guide rails with low friction, which can apply a biaxial force to the cruciform specimen.</li>
		<li>Using screw bolts, clamp each arm of the cruciform specimen to a carriage with a specimen holder and a top plate.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Set up grips in the chamber of the uniaxial tensile test machine, as shown in Figure 3 (a). Attach four welding cables to each pair of grips, which are made of stainless steel and copper, respectively, and thus connect the welding cables to the electrical power supply. 
	NOTE: The conductor area of the welding cables is 50 mm2 and the current rating is 345 A.
	<ol>
		<li>Put the grips and the clamp of the biaxial testing apparatus into the two jaws of the uniaxial tensile test machine and tighten them inside (Figure 3 (a)).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Set up the biaxial testing apparatus in the chamber of the uniaxial tensile test machine, as shown in Figure 3 (b).
	<ol>
		<li>Use two frames and screw bolts on the top and the bottom sides of the base plate to fix the apparatus in the chamber of the uniaxial tensile test machine.</li>
		<li>Put the specimen into the specimen holder on top of the biaxial testing apparatus.</li>
		<li>Connect each terminal of the welding cables to each clamping region of the specimen.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Setup of the Heating and Quenching System
<ol>
	<li>Tightly connect each clamping region of the specimen to the stainless steel top plate, which serves as the electrode for resistance heating.</li>
	<li>Tighten the welding cables with crimp ring terminals to the top plate of each clamping region.</li>
	<li>Connect flared nozzles with hoses to the high flow quench system with regulated air supply at 8,000 kg/m2 pressure for cooling.</li>
	<li>Use four nozzles to blow air from the arms of the specimen to the central region of the specimen. 
	NOTE: The nozzles are not directed onto the gauge section for cooling to avoid blocking the central zone from the camera&#39;s view.</li>
</ol>
4. Setup of the DIC System
<ol>
	<li>Connect the high-speed camera of the DIC system with a micro lens to a computer. Adjust the frame rates of the camera to 25 fps, 50 fps, and 500 fps from the menu of frame rates (for the tests at the stretching strain rates of 0.01/s, 0.1/s and 1/s, respectively). Set the resolutions of all images to 1,280&#215;1,024 pixels. 
	NOTE: The frame rates depend on the number of data points to be collected; at least 200 data points can be collected using the above settings.</li>
	<li>Use an additional spotlight with a power of 300 W for tests at high strain rates. Point the spotlight directly at the chamber of the uniaxial tensile test machine.</li>
	<li>Adjust the camera lens so that it is parallel to the top surface of the specimen in the chamber and focus the camera on the gauge section.</li>
</ol>
5. Experimental Program
<ol>
	<li>Run the resistance heating uniaxial tensile test machine by clicking the triangular run button in the control software. 
	NOTE: Electricity runs through the AA6082 material and heats it to the solution heat treatment temperature of 535 &#176;C14 at a heating rate of 30 &#176;C/s. The material is soaked at 535 &#176;C for 1 min, which is sufficient for the full resolution of precipitates. Air blowing from the quench system is used to quench the material at a cooling rate of 100 &#176;C/s15 to one of 3 designated elevated temperatures in the range of 370-510 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Stretch the specimen with the biaxial testing apparatus at a constant strain rate in the range of 0.01-1/s and record the deformation history by manually pressing the trigger button connected to the high-speed camera. 
	NOTE: The input displacement from the uniaxial testing machine to the biaxial testing apparatus was controlled by the built-in software of the uniaxial testing machine.</li>
	<li>Perform the tests at different strain paths consisting of uniaxial, plane strain, and biaxial straining states3 by adjusting the configuration of the biaxial testing apparatus.
	<ol>
		<li>Disconnect two opposed connecting rods for uniaxial tests. Clamp a dog-bone specimen on the biaxial testing apparatus and connect it to welding cables, as in steps 3.1-3.4. Repeat steps 5.1-5.2.</li>
		<li>Fix two opposed carriages to the base plate with screw bolts to restrict the deformation on the corresponding direction for testing under plane strain state. Clamp a cruciform specimen on the biaxial testing apparatus and connect it to welding cables, as in steps 3.1-3.4. Repeat steps 5.1-5.2.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Repeat steps 5.3.1-5.3.2 for each test condition three times, using new dog-bone and cruciform specimens.</li>
</ol>
6. Data Processing
<ol>
	<li>Import all images recorded by the high-speed camera into the post-processing software and follow standard steps for data analysis according to the software manual.</li>
	<li>Use the ISO standard3 to determine the forming limits by clicking the FLC Mode button in the software. 
	NOTE: This method has already been integrated into the image correlation processing software.</li>
	<li>Mark each result of the forming limits at various temperatures, strain rates, and strain paths in a diagram.</li>
	<li>Plot the forming limit curves at all test conditions to obtain an FLD of an alloy under hot stamping conditions.</li>
</ol>

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A. 10 (1), 41-46 (1979).</li><li>Shao, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Experimental+investigation+of+forming+limit+curves+and+deformation+features+in+warm+forming+of+an+aluminium+alloy.">Experimental investigation of forming limit curves and deformation features in warm forming of an aluminium alloy.</a> P. I. Mech. Eng. B-J. Eng. , (2016).</li><li>Marciniak, Z., Kuczynski, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Limit+strains+in+the+processes+of+stretch-forming+sheet+metal.">Limit strains in the processes of stretch-forming sheet metal.</a> Int. J. Mech. Sci. 9 (9), 609-620 (1967).</li><li>Li, D., Ghosh, A. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biaxial+warm+forming+behavior+of+aluminum+sheet+alloys.">Biaxial warm forming behavior of aluminum sheet alloys.</a> J. of Mater. Process. Tech. 145 (3), 281-293 (2004).</li><li>Palumbo, G., Sorgente, D., Tricarico, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+design+of+a+formability+test+in+warm+conditions+for+an+AZ31+magnesium+alloy+avoiding+friction+and+strain+rate+effects.">The design of a formability test in warm conditions for an AZ31 magnesium alloy avoiding friction and strain rate effects.</a> Int. J. Mach. Tool. Manu. 48 (14), 1535-1545 (2008).</li><li>Raghavan, K. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Conventional formability test methods used to determine forming limits are usually applicable only at room temperature. The presented technique can be used to evaluate the formability of metals for hot sheet stamping applications by introducing a novel biaxial testing apparatus to a resistance heating uniaxial testing machine. This cannot be performed using conventional methods for hot stamping applications. The setup of heating and cooling systems and the DIC system is critical to controlling the uniformity of temperatu...

The automotive industry is facing a huge global challenge of reducing fuel consumption and minimizing environmental pollution from vehicle emissions. Weight reduction is beneficial to improving the performance of automobiles and can directly reduce energy consumption1. Due to the low formability of sheet metals at room temperature, hot stamping and cold die quenching processes (referred to as hot stamping)2 are used to improve the formability of alloys and thus to obtain complex shaped components in automotive applications.
A forming limit diagram (FLD) is a useful tool to evaluate the formability of an alloy3. Out-of-plane tests, such as the Nakazima test4,5, and in-plane tests, such as the Marciniak test6,7,8, are conventional experimental methods to obtain the FLDs of sheet metals under various conditions9,10,11. A servo-hydraulic biaxial testing machine has also been used to investigate the formability of alloys at room temperature12,13.
However, none of the methods above are applicable to formability tests under hot stamping conditions, since a cooling process prior to forming is required along with control of the heating and cooling rates. The deformation temperature and strain rate are difficult to obtain accurately. Therefore, a novel formability testing system is proposed in this study to experimentally determine the forming limits of sheet metals under hot stamping conditions.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Aluminium Alloy&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Smiths Metal</td><td>6082</td><td>Specimens machining</td></tr><tr><td>Laser cutter</td><td>LVD Ltd</td><td>HELIUS 25/13</td><td>Laser cutting specimens</td></tr><tr><td>CNC machine</td><td>HAAS Automation</td><td>TM-2CE</td><td>Machine specimens by milling</td></tr><tr><td>Vernier caliper</td><td>Mitutoyo</td><td>575-481</td><td>Thickness measurement</td></tr><tr><td>Resistance heating uniaxial testing machine</td><td>Dynamic System Inc</td><td>Gleeble 3800</td><td>Thermo-mechanical materials simulator</td></tr><tr><td>High flow quench system</td><td>Dynamic System Inc</td><td>38510</td><td>For air cooling</td></tr><tr><td>Thermocouples</td><td>Dynamic System Inc</td><td>K type</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nozzles</td><td>Indexa</td><td></td><td>Nozzle flared 1/4 inch bore</td></tr><tr><td>Welding cables</td><td>LAPP Group</td><td>H01N2-D</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>High-speed camera</td><td>Photron</td><td>UX50</td><td>For DIC testing</td></tr><tr><td>Camera lens</td><td>Nikon</td><td>Micro 200mm</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lamp</td><td>Liliput</td><td>150ce</td><td>300 W</td></tr><tr><td>Laptop</td><td>HP</td><td>Campaq 2530p</td><td>For images recording</td></tr><tr><td>Biaxial testing apparatus</td><td>Manufactured independently</td><td></td><td>All parts were designed and machinced by authors for biaxial testing</td></tr><tr><td>Steel&amp;nbsp;</td><td>West Yorkshire Steel</td><td>H13</td><td>Mateials of the biaxial testing apparatus</td></tr><tr><td>Image correlation processing software</td><td>GOM</td><td>ARAMIS</td><td>Non-contact measuring system and data post-pocessing</td></tr></tbody></table>

a novel biaxial testing apparatus for the determination of forming limit under hot stamping conditions

The hot stamping and cold die quenching process is increasingly used to form complex shaped structural components of sheet metals. Conventional experimental approaches, such as out-of-plane and in-plane tests, are not applicable to the determination of forming limits when heating and rapid cooling processes are introduced prior to forming for tests conducted under hot stamping conditions. A novel in-plane biaxial testing system was designed and used for the determination of forming limits of sheet metals at various strain paths, temperatures, and strain rates after heating and cooling processes in a resistance heating uniaxial testing machine. The core part of the biaxial testing system is a biaxial apparatus, which transfers a uniaxial force provided by the uniaxial testing machine to a biaxial force. One type of cruciform specimen was designed and verified for the formability test of aluminum alloy 6082 using the proposed biaxial testing system. The digital image correlation (DIC) system with a high-speed camera was used for taking strain measurements of a specimen during a deformation. The aim of proposing this biaxial testing system is to enable the forming limits of an alloy to be determined at various temperatures and strain rates under hot stamping conditions.

Since FLDs are highly strain path-dependent, the linearity of the strain path for each test condition was verified by analyzing the DIC results; the strain paths are proportional throughout deformation for each test condition. The range of the minor-to-major strain ratio is approximately -0.37 (uniaxial condition) to 0.26 (near biaxial condition). By processing data for different AA6082 conditions, forming limit data for different strain paths were determined and hence, the FLDs for AA608...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Novel Biaxial Testing Apparatus for the Determination of Forming Limit under Hot Stamping Conditions at JoVE.com

A Novel Biaxial Testing Apparatus for the Determination of Forming Limit under Hot Stamping Conditions

This protocol proposes a novel biaxial testing system used on a resistance heating uniaxial tensile test machine in order to determine the forming limit diagram (FLD) of sheet metals under hot stamping conditions.

The hot stamping and cold die quenching process is increasingly used to form complex shaped structural components of sheet metals. Conventional ...

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7.5K Views.  Imperial College London. This protocol proposes a novel biaxial testing system used on a resistance heating uniaxial tensile test machine in order to determine the forming limit diagram (FLD) of sheet metals under hot stamping conditions.

Video: A Novel Biaxial Testing Apparatus for the Determination of Forming Limit under Hot Stamping Conditions

Experimental Methods for Investigation of Shape Memory Based Elastocaloric Cooling Processes and Model Validation

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) using elastocaloric cooling processes have the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional vapor compression based cooling process. Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) based alloy systems, especially, show large elastocaloric effects. Furthermore, exhibit large latent heats which is a necessary material property for the development of an efficient solid-state based cooling process. A scientific test rig has been designed to investigate these processes and the elastocaloric effects in SMAs. The realized test rig enables independent control of an SMA&#39;s mechanical loading and unloading cycles, as well as conductive heat transfer between SMA cooling elements and a heat source/sink. The test rig is equipped with a comprehensive monitoring system capable of synchronized measurements of mechanical and thermal parameters. In addition to determining the process-dependent mechanical work, the system also enables measurement of thermal caloric aspects of the elastocaloric cooling effect through use of a high-performance infrared camera. This combination is of particular interest, because it allows illustrations of localization and rate effects &#8212; both important for efficient heat transfer from the medium to be cooled.
The work presented describes an experimental method to identify elastocaloric material properties in different materials and sample geometries. Furthermore, the test rig is used to investigate different cooling process variations. The introduced analysis methods enable a differentiated consideration of material, process and related boundary condition influences on the process efficiency. The comparison of the experimental data with the simulation results (of a thermomechanically coupled finite element model) allows for better understanding of the underlying physics of the elastocaloric effect. In addition, the experimental results, as well as the findings based on the simulation results, are used to improve the material properties.

Experimental methods for investigation of solid state cooling processes and characterization of elastocaloric material properties of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are presented. A custom-built test rig has been designed for controlling and comprehensive monitoring of elastocaloric cooling processes. Furthermore, it provides a validation platform for thermomechanically coupled modeling approaches.

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) using elastocaloric cooling processes have the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional vapor ...

High-pressure, High-temperature Deformation Experiment Using the New Generation Griggs-type Apparatus

In order to address geological processes at great depths, rock deformation should ideally be tested at high pressure (&#62; 0.5 GPa) and high temperature (&#62; 300 &#176;C). However, because of the low stress resolution of current solid-pressure-medium apparatuses, high-resolution measurements are today restricted to low-pressure deformation experiments in the gas-pressure-medium apparatus. A new generation of solid-medium piston-cylinder (&#34;Griggs-type&#34;) apparatus is here described. Able to perform high-pressure deformation experiments up to 5 GPa and designed to adapt an internal load cell, such a new apparatus offers the potential to establish a technological basis for high-pressure rheology. This paper provides video-based detailed documentation of the procedure (using the &#34;conventional&#34; solid-salt assembly) to perform high-pressure, high-temperature experiments with the newly designed Griggs-type apparatus. A representative result of a Carrara marble sample deformed at 700 &#176;C, 1.5 GPa and 10-5 s-1 with the new press is also given. The related stress-time curve illustrates all steps of a Griggs-type experiment, from increasing pressure and temperature to sample quenching when deformation is stopped. Together with future developments, the critical steps and limitations of the Griggs apparatus are then discussed.

Rock deformation needs to be quantified at high pressure. A description of the procedure to perform deformation experiments in a newly designed solid-medium Griggs-type apparatus is here given. This provides technological basis for future rheological studies at pressures up to 5 GPa.

In order to address geological processes at great depths, rock deformation should ideally be tested at high pressure (&#62; 0.5 GPa) and high temperature ...

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Knowledge Based Cloud FE Simulation of Sheet Metal Forming Processes

The use of Finite Element (FE) simulation software to adequately predict the outcome of sheet metal forming processes is crucial to enhancing the efficiency and lowering the development time of such processes, whilst reducing costs involved in trial-and-error prototyping. Recent focus on the substitution of steel components with aluminum alloy alternatives in the automotive and aerospace sectors has increased the need to simulate the forming behavior of such alloys for ever more complex component geometries. However these alloys, and in particular their high strength variants, exhibit limited formability at room temperature, and high temperature manufacturing technologies have been developed to form them. Consequently, advanced constitutive models are required to reflect the associated temperature and strain rate effects. Simulating such behavior is computationally very expensive using conventional FE simulation techniques.
This paper presents a novel Knowledge Based Cloud FE (KBC-FE) simulation technique that combines advanced material and friction models with conventional FE simulations in an efficient manner thus enhancing the capability of commercial simulation software packages. The application of these methods is demonstrated through two example case studies, namely: the prediction of a material's forming limit under hot stamping conditions, and the tool life prediction under multi-cycle loading conditions.

The following paper presents a novel FE simulation technique (KBC-FE), which reduces computational cost by performing simulations on a cloud computing environment, through the application of individual modules. Moreover, it establishes a seamless collaborative network between world leading scientists, enabling the integration of cutting edge knowledge modules into FE simulations.

The use of Finite Element (FE) simulation software to adequately predict the outcome of sheet metal forming processes is crucial to enhancing the ...

Experimental Procedure for Warm Spinning of Cast Aluminum Components

High performance, cast aluminum automotive wheels are increasingly being incrementally formed via flow forming/metal spinning at elevated temperatures to improve material properties. With a wide array of processing parameters which can affect both the shape attained and resulting material properties, this type of processing is notoriously difficult to commission. A simplified, light-duty version of the process has been designed and implemented for full-size automotive wheels. The apparatus is intended to assist in understanding the deformation mechanisms and the material response to this type of processing. An experimental protocol has been developed to prepare for, and subsequently perform forming trials and is described for as-cast A356 wheel blanks. The thermal profile attained, along with instrumentation details are provided. Similitude with full-scale forming operations which impart significantly more deformation at faster rates is discussed.

An experimental protocol for instrumented warm rotary forming of cast aluminum alloys employing a bespoke industrially scaled apparatus is presented. Experimental considerations including thermal and mechanical effects are discussed, as well as similitude with full-scale processing of automotive wheels.

High performance, cast aluminum automotive wheels are increasingly being incrementally formed via flow forming/metal spinning at elevated temperatures to ...

Ultrasonic Fatigue Testing in the Tension-Compression Mode

Ultrasonic fatigue testing is one of a few methods which allow investigating fatigue properties in the ultra-high cycle region. The method is based on exposing the specimen to longitudinal vibrations on its resonance frequency close to 20 kHz. With use of this method, it is possible to significantly decrease the time required for the test, when compared to conventional testing devices usually working at frequencies under 200 Hz. It is also used to simulate loading of material during operation in high speed conditions, such as those experienced by components of jet engines or car turbo pumps. It is necessary to operate only in the high and ultra-high cycle region, due to the possibility of extremely high deformation rates, which can have a significant influence on the test results. Specimen shape and dimensions have to be carefully selected and calculated to fulfill the resonance condition of the ultrasonic system; thus, it is not possible to test the full components or specimens of arbitrary shape. Before each test, it is necessary to harmonize the specimen with the frequency of the ultrasonic system to compensate for deviations of the real shape from the ideal one. It is not possible to run a test until a total fracture of the specimen, since the test is automatically terminated after initiation and propagation of the crack to a certain length, when the stiffness of the system changes enough to shift the system out of the resonance frequency. This manuscript describes the process of evaluation of materials' fatigue properties at high-frequency ultrasonic fatigue loading with use of mechanical resonance at a frequency close to 20 kHz. The protocol includes a detailed description of all steps required for a correct test, including specimen design, stress calculation, harmonizing with the resonance frequency, performing the test, and final static fracture.

A protocol for ultrasonic fatigue testing in the high and ultra-high cycle region in axial tension-compression loading mode.

Ultrasonic fatigue testing is one of a few methods which allow investigating fatigue properties in the ultra-high cycle region. The method is based on ...

Conducting Elevated Temperature Normal and Combined Pressure-Shear Plate Impact Experiments Via a Breech-end Sabot Heater System

A novel approach for conducting normal and/or combined pressure-shear plate impact experiments at test temperatures up to 1000 &#176;C is presented. The method enables elevated temperature plate-impact experiments aimed towards probing dynamic behavior of materials under thermomechanical extremes, while mitigating several special experimental challenges faced while performing similar experiments using the conventional plate impact approach. Custom adaptations are made to the breech-end of a single-stage gas-gun at Case Western Reserve University; these adaptations include a precision-machined extension piece made from SAE 4340 steel, which is strategically designed to mate the existing gun-barrel while providing a high tolerance match to the bore and keyway. The extension piece contains a vertical cylindrical heater-well, which houses a heater assembly. A resistive coil heater-head, capable of reaching temperatures of up 1200 &#176;C, is attached to a vertical stem with axial/rotational degrees of freedoms; this enables thin metal specimens held at the front-end of a heat-resistant sabot to be heated uniformly across the diameter to the desired test temperatures. By heating the flyer plate (in this case, the sample) at the breech-end of the gun-barrel instead of at the target-end, several critical experimental challenges can be averted. These include: 1) severe changes in the alignment of the target plate during heating due to the thermal expansion of the several constituents of the target holder assembly; 2) challenges that arise due to the diagnostics elements, (i.e., polymer holographic gratings, and optical probes) being too close to the heated target assembly; 3) challenges that arise for target plates with an optical window, where crucial tolerances between the sample, bond layer, and window become increasingly difficult to maintain at high temperatures; 4) in the case of combined compression-shear plate impact experiments, the need for high-temperature resistant diffraction gratings for the measurement of transverse particle velocity at the free surface of the target; and 5) limitations imposed on the impact velocity necessary for unambiguous interpretation of the measured free surface velocity versus time profile due to thermal softening and possibly yielding of the bounding target plates.By utilizing the adaptations mentioned above, we present results from a series of reverse geometry normal plate impact experiments on commercial purity aluminum at a range of sample temperatures. These experiments show decreasing particle velocities in the impacted state, which are indicative of material softening (decrease in post-yield flow stress) with increasing sample temperatures.

Here, we present a detailed protocol of a new approach for conducting elevated temperature reverse normal plate impact, and combined pressure-and-shear plate impact. The approach involves the use of a breech-end resistive coil heater to heat a sample held at the front-end of a heat-resistant sabot to the desired temperature.

A novel approach for conducting normal and/or combined pressure-shear plate impact experiments at test temperatures up to 1000 &#176;C is presented. The ...

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

In terms of accurate and precise mechanical testing, machines run the continuum. Whereas commercial platforms offer excellent accuracy, they can be cost-prohibitive, often priced in the $100,000 - $200,000 price range. At the other extreme are stand-alone manual devices that often lack repeatability and accuracy (e.g., a manual crank device). However, if a single use is indicated, it is over-engineering to design and machine something overly elaborate. Nonetheless, there are occasions where machines are designed and built in-house to accomplish a motion not attainable with the existing machines in the laboratory. Described in detail here is one such device. It is a loading platform that enables pure uniaxial loading. Standard loading machines typically are biaxial in that linear loading occurs along the axis and rotary loading occurs about the axis. During testing with these machines, a load is applied to one end of the specimen while the other end remains fixed. These systems are not capable of conducting pure axial testing in which tension/compression is applied equally to the specimen ends. The platform developed in this paper enables the equal and opposite loading of specimens. While it can be used for compression, here the focus is on its use in pure tensile loading. The device incorporates commercial load cells and actuators (movers) and, as is the case with machines built in-house, a frame is machined to hold the commercial parts and fixtures for testing.

Here we present a protocol to develop a pure uniaxial loading machine. Critical design aspects are employed to ensure accurate and reproducible testing results.

In terms of accurate and precise mechanical testing, machines run the continuum. Whereas commercial platforms offer excellent accuracy, they can be ...

Biaxial Mechanical Characterizations of Atrioventricular Heart Valves

Extensive biaxial mechanical testing of the atrioventricular heart valve leaflets can be utilized to derive&#160;optimal parameters used in constitutive models, which provide a mathematical representation of the mechanical function of those structures. This presented biaxial mechanical testing protocol involves (i) tissue acquisition, (ii) the preparation of tissue specimens, (iii) biaxial mechanical testing, and (iv) postprocessing of the acquired data. First, tissue acquisition requires obtaining porcine or ovine hearts from a local Food and Drug Administration-approved abattoir for later dissection to retrieve the valve leaflets. Second, tissue preparation requires using tissue specimen cutters on the leaflet tissue to extract a clear zone for testing. Third, biaxial mechanical testing of the leaflet specimen requires the use of a commercial biaxial mechanical tester, which consists of force-controlled, displacement-controlled, and stress-relaxation testing protocols to characterize the leaflet tissue&#39;s mechanical properties. Finally, post-processing requires the use of data image correlation techniques and force and displacement readings to summarize the tissue&#39;s mechanical behaviors in response to external loading. In general, results from biaxial testing demonstrate that the leaflet tissues yield a nonlinear, anisotropic mechanical response. The presented biaxial testing procedure is advantageous to other methods since the method presented here allows for a more comprehensive characterization of the valve leaflet tissue under one unified testing scheme, as opposed to separate testing protocols on different tissue specimens. The proposed testing method has its limitations in that shear stress is potentially present in the tissue sample. However, any potential shear is presumed negligible.

This protocol involves characterizations of atrioventricular valve leaflets with force-controlled, displacement-controlled, and stress-relaxation biaxial mechanical testing procedures. Results acquired with this protocol can be used for constitutive model development to simulate the mechanical behavior of functioning valves under a finite element simulation framework.

Extensive biaxial mechanical testing of the atrioventricular heart valve leaflets can be utilized to derive&#160;optimal parameters used in constitutive ...

Bioengineering

Layer Microdissection of Tricuspid Valve Leaflets for Biaxial Mechanical Characterization and Microstructural Quantification

The tricuspid valve (TV) regulates the unidirectional flow of unoxygenated blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle. The TV consists of three leaflets, each with unique mechanical behaviors. These variations among the three TV leaflets can be further understood by examining their four anatomical layers, which are the atrialis (A), spongiosa (S), fibrosa (F), and ventricularis (V). While these layers are present in all three TV leaflets, there are differences in their thicknesses and microstructural constituents that further influence their respective mechanical behaviors. 
This protocol includes four steps to elucidate the layer-specific differences: (i) characterize the mechanical and collagen fiber architectural behaviors of the intact TV leaflet, (ii) separate the composite layers (A/S and F/V) of the TV leaflet, (iii) carry out the same characterizations for the composite layers, and (iv) perform post-hoc histology assessment. This experimental framework uniquely allows the direct comparison of the intact TV tissue to each of its composite layers. As a result, detailed information regarding the microstructure and biomechanical function of the TV leaflets can be collected with this protocol. Such information can potentially be used to develop TV computational models that seek to provide guidance for the clinical treatment of TV disease.

This protocol describes the biaxial mechanical characterization, polarized spatial frequency domain imaging-based collagen quantification, and microdissection of tricuspid valve leaflets. The provided method elucidates how the leaflet layers contribute to the holistic leaflet behaviors.

The tricuspid valve (TV) regulates the unidirectional flow of unoxygenated blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle. The TV consists of three ...

Stress-Strain Characteristics of Steels

Source:&#160;Roberto Leon, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
The importance of materials to human development is clearly captured by the early classifications of world history into periods such as the Stone Age, Iron Age, and the Bronze Age. The introduction of the Siemens and Bessemer processes to produce steels in the mid-1800s is arguably the single most important development in launching the Industrial Revolution that transformed much of Europe and the USA in the second half of the 19th century from agrarian societies into the urban and mechanized societies of today. Steel, in its almost infinite variations, is all around us, from our kitchen appliances to cars, to lifelines such as electrical transmission networks and water distribution systems. In this experiment we will look at the stress-strain behavior of two types of steel that bound the range usually seen in civil engineering applications - from a very mild, hot rolled steel to a hard, cold rolled one.