PLANAR TEST SYSTEM
An apparatus for applying a force to a specimen is provided. The apparatus comprises: an output rotatable member comprising a plurality of connection points; a plurality of rigid connection means, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each connection means is pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of connection points of the output rotatable member; a plurality of guide members; and a plurality of specimen holders, each slidably mounted to one of the guide members and pivotably coupled to the second end of one of the plurality of connection means.
1 . An apparatus for applying a force to a specimen, the apparatus comprising:
an output rotatable member comprising a plurality of connection points;
a plurality of rigid connection means, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each connection means is pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of connection points of the output rotatable member;
a plurality of guide members; and
a plurality of specimen holders, each slidably mounted to one of the guide members and pivotably coupled to the second end of one of the plurality of connection means.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a drive shaft coupled to the output rotatable member.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an input rotatable member coupled to the drive shaft.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a rigid drive member arranged to rotate the output rotatable member.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output rotatable member is a disc.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein there is a first number of connection points and a second number of rigid connection means, and wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the connection means are configured to be coupled to different connection points of the plurality of connection points in order to apply two or more different strain paths to a specimen.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a rigid base plate.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of guide members are coupled to the base plate.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of fixing points arranged to couple to the specimen holders.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connection points are distributed in a plane of the output rotatable member.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plane of the output rotatable member is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the output rotatable member.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of guide members extends in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the output rotatable member.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each guide member extends perpendicular to the guide members adjacent to it.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of guide members define a plane parallel to the plane of the output rotatable member.
16 . The apparatus of any of claim 1 , wherein each guide member comprises two rails orientated parallel to one another.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of specimen holders hold the specimen.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an environmental chamber housing the apparatus.
19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control for controlling a temperature of the specimen.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the temperature control is configured to control a heating rate of the specimen and a subsequent cooling rate of the specimen in order to simulate hot forming and cold quenching of the specimen.
21 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a measurement system configured to measure a strain in the specimen and/or a force applied to the specimen.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense the force applied to the specimen.
23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense the strain in the specimen.
24 . A method for applying a force to a specimen, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
an output rotatable member comprising a plurality of connection points,
a plurality of rigid connection means, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each connection means is pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of connection points of the output rotatable member,
a plurality of guide members, and
a plurality of specimen holders, each slidably mounted to one of the guide members and pivotably coupled to the second end of one of the plurality of connection means;
providing a specimen, wherein the plurality of specimen holders hold the specimen;
rotating the output rotatable member to apply a force to the specimen.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of rotating comprises applying a linear force to a rigid drive member arranged to rotate the output rotatable member.
26 . The method of claim 24 , the method further comprising:
controlling a temperature of the specimen.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the apparatus is housed in an environmental chamber, and the step of controlling the temperature of the specimen comprises controlling a temperature within the environmental chamber containing the specimen.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of controlling the temperature of the specimen comprises controlling a heating rate of the specimen and a subsequent cooling rate of the specimen in order to simulate hot forming and cold quenching of the specimen.
29 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising measuring a strain in the specimen and/or a force applied to the specimen.