Joint and Structural Testing

Strength and fatigue tests are performed on joints and structures at MERL using advanced servo-hydraulic test equipment with capacities of up to 250 kN.

Special attention is paid to alignment so that bond lines are loaded uniformly. Additional instrumentation is used to monitor stiffness and detect any early indication of failure.

For fatigue, constant amplitude cyclic loads can be applied and also variable amplitude time history loads, better representing in-service loads.