A Pneumatic Materials Test System for Low-Temperature Applications

Abstract

Often in the characterization of the mechanical properties of materials at low temperatures, difficulties are encountered in the mating of the Dewar/cryostat to the mechanical test facility. Considerable frustration arises from the fact that common hydraulic or electrohydraulic, servo-controlled testing machines will not accommodate the bulk of a cryostat. Similarly, the actuator position of most testing devices does not lend itself easily to the task of load-frame design and materials testing. There are two design alternatives when setting up a test system for the characterization of low-temperature material response: modification of the testing machine to accommodate an existing research Dewar or fabrication of a special Dewar to mate with an existing mechanical testing system. Either of these processes can be extremely expensive and often results in a final system with limited capability.