MERL Mk 6
The MERL Mk6 is a multi-station servo-hydraulic machine
designed for the characterisation of the fatigue performance
of materials,
components and products. Because fatigue tests are expensive
and time consuming to carry out, the multi-station concept
provides
6 individually instrumented stations enabling replicate
data to be obtained in parallel, thus saving time and cost.
The Mk 6 test machine provides:
- The flexibility of servo-hydraulic testing – pulse, sinusoidal, square
wave, time history etc loading
- A single standalone package - no external pump or oil cooling are required,
so that minimal infrastructure costs are incurred at installation
The basic platform that can be customised to meet a range of fatigue testing
requirements. Key features for the system include: |
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- Hardware platform that can be configured for testing a range of test pieces, components or products
- Actuator and associated control selected to meet stroke and frequency requirements
- Multi-station approach (one actuator, multiple test pieces each individually
instrumented and monitored)
- Ideal for locations where no pre-existing servo-hydraulic test infrastructure
exists
- General test machine control and data acquisition software package or customised for specific tests (e.g. compliance monitoring of DCBs)
- A range of fully integrated and controlled environmental test chambers available (temperature, humidity, salt spray, ozone, UV etc)
- Fixtures configured for specific test piece or component requirements
Two examples of variants of the machine that are in use with clients across
Europe:
The MERL Mk 6 rubber fatigue machine - based on MERLs many years of experience
in the fatigue evaluation of elastomers. As standard, this machine
is fitted with an actuator stroke +/- 70mm. Environmental chamber is used
to control
test temperature. Microscope system used to monitor and record crack
growth.
The MERL Mk 6 adhesive joint fatigue machine is used for the fatigue evaluation
of adhesive joints. As standard, this machine is fitted with an actuator
stroke +/- 10mm. Supplied with an
environmental chamber for corrosion cycles controlling humidity, temperature
and salt spray. Precision compliance change measurement is used to
monitor crack growth.
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