Strength of Materials Laboratory

This laboratory is equipped with two MTS servo-hydraulic materials test systems. One machine has a traveling microscope attached to it. This high-resolution device allows one to observe microstructural changes simultaneously with stress and displacement. Capabilities include: fracture toughness evaluation of various materials crack growth kinetics under different loading histories; and microstructural damage analysis and micromechanics studies. The second MTS unit is capable of applying simultaneous axial and torsional loads. An environmental chamber is available. There is equipment available for fracture surface characterization and image analysis and a grinding-polishing unit.