Biaxial machine mechanically tests elastic tissues

Zwick has introduced a biaxial testing machine that mechanically tests natural and artificial elastic tissues.

It can perform planar mechanical tests and can accurately determine uniaxial, equibiaxial and non-uniform loadings.

Zwick's new materials-testing machine uses four high-resolution linear drives (travel 50mm) that can be positioned, loaded or strain-controlled independently of each other.

Load measurement takes place via four load cells (two load cells each in X and Y directions) with a maximum test load of 100 N.

Control is provided by Testcontrol measurement and control electronics.

Strain control and/or centre point control is via the Laserxtens extensometer.

This requires no gauge marks but uses the structure of the specimen surface, which is as unique as a human fingerprint, to generate virtual gauge marks.

Laser beams aimed at these are reflected in various directions corresponding to the surface texture, forming a specific speckle pattern, which is captured by a video camera.

Continuous measurement and evaluation allows selected measuring points to be followed, tracking the change in the surface structure - and that of the speckle pattern - during specimen deformation.

Non-contact extensometers are suitable for dealing with specimens that react critically to knife edges, cause damage to contact-measuring extensometers at specimen break, and non-markable specimens.

Laserxtens has a resolution of at least 0.15um.

A fixture supplied with the machine allows the specimen to be mounted away from the test device and inserted into the measuring system ready-assembled, simplifying specimen preparation and reducing downtime.

A height-adjustable saline bath also accompanies the system, with optional heating to allow tests on human and animal specimens to be carried out under simulated body conditions.

Testxpert II software tests reliably and flexibly to international or internal company standards.

The Expanded Traceability software provides complete digital logging of individual actions and changes relating to the test (meets the requirements of FDA 21 CFR Part 11).

Bi-directional exchange of data with SAP and other laboratory databases is also possible.

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