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The Challenge
A large multinational manufacturer of elastomeric materials and
components needed to improve the fatigue life of their conveyor belts.
Used in the mining of raw materials, these conveyor belts are crucial for
transporting various raw materials over great distances and must be reliable for
many years in order for the mining companies to operate economically. The
customer needed to analyze the dynamic properties of various formulations
in order to determine which one would best withstand the extreme conditions to
which the conveyor belts are subjected. They also wanted to understand the
relationship between load vs. strain at various rates and measure durability
in conditions simulating actual use in mining operations.
The Solution
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An Instron model 8516 with an enhanced resolution video extensometer for
strain measurement and WaveMaker™ software for test control and data acquisition.
The materials have a high degree of elongation so Instron recommended the video
extensometer because its non-contacting technology is better suited to fatigue
tests than conventional strain measurement devices. The WaveMaker software allows the
customer to accurately simulate end-use load conditions and automate the
characterization of static and fatigue properties of their various materials.
The flexibility of the 8516 system allows the addition of temperature
chambers and other accessories as future requirements arise.
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