Instron

Fatigue Testing

Automotive

Fatigue Testing

Fatigue performance has always been important in automotive design, where the sources of cyclic loading and vibration are many and varied. Hence fatigue behavior is a long-established part of qualification for automotive steels, and remains essential for newer designs with aluminum and composites.

THE CHALLENGE

Car breakdown

In today's automotive industry, cyclic loading represents a diverse range of evaluation needs, including low cycle fatigue of metals, high cycle fatigue of composites and joints, damping behavior of mountings and interior panels – all of which affect the NVH (noise vibration and harshness) and hence, passenger comfort.

THE CHALLENGE

Our Solution

Dynamic Systems Family

For a multipurpose laboratory handling large specimens, Instron® servo-hydraulic systems provide excellent capabilities for medium to high-capacity dynamic testing. The load frames can be configured to meet a wide range of materials, component testing, and requirements; and can be fitted with interchangeable fixtures to perform specific tests.

The Instron 8800MT controller with WaveMatrix™ dynamic test software provides high fidelity of control, and synchronous data acquisition, with easily configured test sequences and live calculations to facilitate everything from “simple” fatigue, to vibration analysis, to multi-step conditional test sequences.

Additionally, application-specific software packages can be used seamlessly on the same system to provide more streamlined workflows for LCF, fracture toughness, or quasi-static testing.

Headliner Peel Testing

Automotive

Headliner Peel Testing

car_interior2_Instron
car_interior2_Instron Headliner peel testing

THE CHALLENGE

Some vehicle textiles have multiple layers or backings, and must be subjected to a peel test in order to determine if adhesion forces are appropriate.

Our Solution

Instron® pneumatic side action grips are able to grip delicate foam specimens in order to perform T-peel tests. With a variety of quick-release jaw faces, these grips allow users to easily test a range of materials with a single system. The air pressure is also adjustable, allowing operators to fine tune the gripping pressure if needed.

Bluehill® Universal software contains a suite of calculations for peel testing, including industry standard calculations, such as first peak, average peel force over a given length, and even allows for custom calculations.

Tensile Testing of Steel Cords

Automotive

Tensile Testing of Steel Cords

Steel cord is formed by twisting multiple strands of steel wires together to form a cord structure. This is often used as a reinforcement material in conveyor belts and radial tires for passenger cars, buses, or heavy equipment vehicles. Compared to other traditional reinforcement materials like nylon, steel cords possess superior mechanical properties, such as higher tensile strength and modulus and better heat resistance. When used as a reinforcement material in radial tires, it offers high road stability, improved steering response, and longer tire service life. Since some of the key performance indicators of tires are dependent on the reinforcing steel cord, it is important for an engineer to understand the properties of the tire cord and how it functions in a tire.

There are many challenges to account for when testing stranded wire. As stranded wire is not a consistent diameter, generally a nominal diameter is used (as defined in the product standard).  As well as the irregularity of the surface, when a specimen is pulled in tension each strand will rotate. Therefore, if a clip-on extensometer is being used, it must be able to rotate. It is also necessary to have a long gauge length, so Instron offers a 600mm G.L. extensometer with 15 degrees of twist available. When stranded wire breaks, the energy released at failure is substantial, and the specimen ‘splays’ out. This may cause damage to extensometers, machine or even operators.

The challenges of testing to this standard are:

  • Specimen gripping
  • Strain measurement
  • Safety

 

Instron's Solution:

  • Instron provides side action grips with wire strand inserts that ensure optimum grip face engagement and clamping surface area.
  • Instron’s E-series extensometers allow for a 600mm gauge length and specimen rotation, providing a robust strain-measurement solution.
  • Debris shields are available in many shapes and sizes, and can be interlocked to ensure operators are not in danger at any time throughout testing.

 

It is important to review the pertinent testing standards in order to fully understand the test setup, procedure, and results requirements.

Literature

6800 Series Premier Testing Systems Brochure

Instron 6800 Series Universal Testing Systems provide unparalleled accuracy and reliability. Built on a patent-pending Operator Protect system architecture with an all-new Smart-Close Air Kit and Collision Mitigation features, the 6800 Series makes materials testing simpler, smarter, and safer than ever before.

  • 제품소개
  • 02/10/2020
  • 1.93 MB

Bluehill Universal Brochure

Bluehill Universal is Instron’s advanced materials testing software, designed for intuitive touch interaction and streamlined workflows. It offers pre-loaded test methods, QuickTest for rapid setup, enhanced data exporting, and Instron Connect for direct service communication. Users of Bluehill 2 and Bluehill 3 can easily upgrade to the latest version for improved performance and usability

  • 제품소개
  • 02/26/2017
  • 3.77 MB

아라미드 섬유 시험

Automotive

아라미드 섬유 시험

인장 시험은 특성화된 재료를 포함한 많은 주된 직물의 물리적인 특징을 조사할 때 유용합니다. 인스트론에서는 다양한 재료를 시험할 수 있도록 여러 가지 형태의 시편 파지법을 이용할 수 있는 광범위한 만능재료 시험기를 공급합니다.

직물을 테스트할 때 우리는 이 재료에 올바른 해결책이 제공될 수 있도록 하는 2714-010 Pneumatic Cord and Yarn Grips을 사용합니다. 많은 직물과 합성 섬유와 마찬가지로, 시험 중에 시험 결과의 정확성을 저해시킬 수 있는 미끄러짐이 발생하지 않도록 하는 것이 매우 중요합니다.

아라미드 섬유는 동일한 중량 기준의 강철이나 다른 상업적으로 이용 가능한 섬유보다 중량 대비5배 더 높은 강도를 가지고 있습니다. 아라미드 섬유는 유리 섬유와 유사한 인장 강도를 보이지만, 최소한 2배는 큰 모듈러스를 가질 수 있습니다.

아라미드 섬유의 시험에는 정확히 이러한 목적을 위해 특별히 설계되어진 일련의 공압식 그립을 제공합니다.

그러므로 특정한 시험 표준을 따르거나 독자적인 시험 절차에 따라 시험하는 여부와 관계없이, 고객의 요구사항에 맞는 올바른 해결책을 제공하기 위한 Bluehill® 3 Software modules과 함께 3300 또는 5900 시리즈의 만능재료 시험기를 추천합니다.

문헌

3400 시리즈 – 경제적인 테스트 솔루션

인장, 압축, 굽힘 및 기타 재료 특성 테스트를 위한 Instron 3400 시리즈 범용 테스트 시스템.

  • 제품소개
  • 06/27/2022
  • 2.49 MB

6800 시리즈 프리미어 시험기 브로셔

Instron 6800 시리즈 만능 시험기는 최고의 정확도와 신뢰성을 제공합니다. 6800 시리즈는 완전히 새로운 Smart-Close Air Kit 및 Collision Mitigation 기능이 있는 특허 출원 중인 Operator Protect 시스템 아키텍처를 기반으로 하며, 그 어느 때보다 간편하고 스마트하며 안전한 소재 시험을 가능하게 합니다.

  • 제품소개
  • 02/10/2020
  • 3.56 MB

Pneumatic Tire Cord Grips (CP105953)

The Instron® pneumatic tire cord grips provide a convenient method for clamping tire cord and braided wire during testing.

  • 제품소개
  • 08/14/2013
  • 599.82 KB

Bluehill Universal 브로슈어

Bluehill Universal은 직관적인 터치 상호 작용과 간소화된 워크플로우를 위해 설계된 Instron의 고급 재료 시험 소프트웨어입니다. 이 소프트웨어는 사전 로드된 시험 방법, 빠른 설정을 위한 QuickTest, 향상된 데이터 내보내기, 그리고 직접적인 서비스 통신을 위한 Instron Connect를 제공합니다. Bluehill 2 및 Bluehill 3 사용자들은 향상된 성능과 사용 편의성을 위해 최신 버전으로 쉽게 업그레이드할 수 있습니다.

  • 제품소개
  • 02/26/2017
  • 4.61 MB

Chassis and Body

Chassis and Body

Automotive

Bumper Impact Testing

To understand the impact resistance properties of bumper materials, a series of tests on specimens should be conducted, in plaque form, at varying impact energies, velocities, and temperatures.

Learn More

Chassis and Body High Strain Rate Testing

As the body is the first point of impact during a car crash, modern designs have incorporated features such as crumple zone to absorb most of the initial impact, reducing the force that will reach the passengers.

Learn More

Composite Laminates Compression After Impact Testing

Compression After Impact test (CAI) is used to define the damage resistance of composites after an Impact event. An impact on composite laminate panel may result in no visible external damage, but it may generate a dramatic reduction of compressive strength. The design of automotive parts using composite materials should consider the effects of impact on the material properties.

Learn More

Composite Laminates Tensile Testing

A wide range of new materials are being used to decrease the weight of vehicles and reduce emissions. Of these new materials continuous carbon fiber polymer composites offer great potential for producing lightweight structures, however, there are many barriers to their widespread adoption.

Learn More

Crash Simulation

Over the past 20 years, the importance of occupant protection in the development of automobiles has greatly increased. Tighter legal requirements and consumer protection programs have led to significant innovations in the area of active and passive safety.

Learn More

Exhaust Line Durability Test

The investigation of the durability of complex assemblies and structures such as vehicle exhaust lines is an essential part of the vehicle development processes conducted by automotive manufacturers and component suppliers.

Learn More

Exhaust Mount Fatigue Testing

Instron® provides simple to use software with built-in DMA calculations, it is quick and easy for users to setup and run tests, saving more time to analyze the data.

Learn More
Fatigue Testing

Fatigue Testing

Fatigue performance has always been important in automotive design, where the sources of cyclic loading and vibration are many and varied.

Learn More

Full Vehicle Testing

Loads caused by driving maneuvers, e.g. Longitudinal, braking and lateral forces can only be detected by a multi-test system test stand, such as full vehicle test rig.

Learn More

Electronics

Electronics

Automotive

Electronics

Bend Test on PCB

AEC-Q200-005-REV (A) defines the standard for verifying the bond strength of surface mount components on finished printed circuit boards (PCBs) to understand their ability to withstand bending, flexing, and pulling forces.

Learn More

Button and Switch Compression Testing

In today's automobiles, a single click of a button or switch is used everywhere, including starting the engine, dashboard controls for entertainment and diagnostic information, and advanced door locking systems.

Learn More

Display Panel Testing

As infotainment display panels and screens are becoming standard features in many automobiles, it is important for manufacturers to understand their mechanical reliability.

Learn More

Electrical Wire and Insulation Tensile Testing

Automotive assemblies today are full of various electrical wires and cable harnesses required to transmit power and other signals to control engine operations, the on-board diagnostic computer, fuel injection system, auxiliary lights, dashboard controls, and the increasingly common infotainment system.

Learn More

Terminal Strength Test

The Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) has defined standards that are critical for qualifying electrical components used in automobiles. Due to the exponential increase in applications of microelectronics in automobiles, these standards are of extreme importance.

Learn More

Drivetrain and Suspension

Drivetrain and Suspension

Automotive

Drivetrain and Suspension

Wheel and Tire

Wheel and Tire

Automotive

Wheel and Tire

Interior

Interior

Automotive

Interior

Safety Systems

Safety Systems

Automotive

Safety Systems

Joining

Joining

Automotive

Joining

Engine

Engine

Automotive

Engine

Crash Simulation

Automotive

Crash Simulation

Over the past 20 years, the importance of occupant protection in the development of automobiles has greatly increased. Tighter legal requirements and consumer protection programs have led to significant innovations in the area of active and passive safety. Passive safety is mainly focused on the development of methods and guidelines that reduce the severity of injuries caused by accidents.

The Challenge 

The implementation of these methods and requirements are extremely demanding for car manufacturers and their component suppliers.

When developing safety components such as airbags, seat belts, seats, etc., a wide range of crash scenarios must be covered and tested in a timely manner. In addition to the modeling process in the design phase and the test of a complete car in the real crash test, the crash simulation system, also known as a sled test system, is one the most important tools in the development process of these safety components.

Today, these crash simulation systems must ensure an efficient and productive testing process in addition to the performance required for the test. This way, these instruments can optimally support the development of safety systems.

Our Solution

 

In the area of passive safety, Instron is the market leader, with over 75 installed crash simulation sled systems. In addition to well-known applications such as frontal, offset, and rear impact, the actively controlled pitch motion simulation for frontal tests has proven to be an outstanding technology in the field.

Acceleration sled systems from Instron are used for the development and approval of vehicle safety systems and vehicle parts, as well as for the investigation of material and structural behavior during crash procedures.

These innovative systems have a proven record of strong performance and undisputed quality. Having original and unique solutions for current and future testing increases productivity and ensures efficient test operation.

Contact Us to learn more about our automotive solutions

Full Vehicle Testing

Automotive

Full Vehicle Testing

THE CHALLENGE

full vehicle

Ever-shorter development cycles for cars and commercial vehicles impose significant time constraints on producers and developers. A multitude of functional and durability tests have to be conducted on prototypes, during which components or sub-systems of the final vehicle are analyzed on a variety of different component and multi-axial test facilities.

Testing of full vehicles is required to validate the vehicle structure and is often carried out on 4-poster systems. However, purely vertical excitation will not reveal all weak points in the vehicle structure. Complex chassis designs and monocoque structures necessitate increasingly precise and, above all, repeatable reproduction of road loads in the laboratory. This requires realistic input of all forces and moments encountered during a track test and the integration of all active vehicle components.

Our Solution

full vehicle

Instron's spindle coupled full-vehicle test rig enables brake, camber and steering moments to be introduced into the dummy wheels, in addition to vertical, longitudinal and lateral loads, thus providing the capability to reproduce even harshest road conditions and severe driving maneuvers in the test laboratory under conditions closely resembling actual road-driving conditions.

The use of an advanced electronic controller allows the synchronous control of active vehicle components in addition to the accurate reproduction of road load data at the wheel. To react braking forces or driving maneuvers, vehicle body restraint systems or longer stroke test systems are available.

Exhaust Line Durability Test

Automotive

Exhaust Line Durability Test

THE CHALLENGE

automotive

The investigation of the durability of complex assemblies and structures such as vehicle exhaust lines is an essential part of the vehicle development processes conducted by automotive manufacturers and component suppliers. The exhaust line has to withstand thermal and physical loads from the combustion process, gear changes, engine torque and driving maneuvers. In view of ever-shorter development cycles and increasing demand for longer warranty periods, close-to-real laboratory testing of exhaust lines is therefore a critical step in the development cycle.

our Solution

exhaust line test

Our ARTEL exhaust line test rig was developed specifically for long-term durability testing of complete vehicle exhaust lines and enables realistic simulation of the service conditions, through thermal and mechanical loading. The shake table on which the engine is installed provides six degrees of freedom and is designed to simulate engine manifold loads. Longitudinal and lateral acceleration signals are generated by means of three to five independent gantries with the associated hydraulic actuators. For fast and convenient installation of the exhaust lines in the test rig, the gantry arms are equipped with linear motors and can be adjusted so that the suspension points coincide with the actual vehicle mounting points.

Composite Laminates Tensile Testing

Automotive

Composite Laminates Tensile Testing

A wide range of new materials are being used to decrease the weight of vehicles and reduce emissions. Of these new materials continuous carbon fiber polymer composites offer great potential for producing lightweight structures, however, there are many barriers to their widespread adoption. Currently, the cost and process times of composites parts are significantly higher than those of traditional metal parts and they require new recycling techniques. Progress is being made with the development of lower cost carbon fibers and thermoplastic matrix materials that offer faster manufacturing processes and facilitate recycling.

Determining the Static Properties of Composite Materials

THE CHALLENGE

The successful use of composite materials demands a thorough understanding of their mechanical properties throughout their operating temperature range. The anisotropic and heterogeneous nature of composite materials means that a range of different mechanical tests, many requiring special fixtures, are required for full characterisation. Maintaining accurate mechanical alignment and minimizing set-up times when switching between test types is a major challenge for laboratories testing composite materials.

OUR SOLUTION

An integrated testing system consisting of accurately aligned precision grips along with a comprehensive range of test fixtures that can be mounted onto the grips provides an effective and productive solution for composites laminates testing. An optional temperature chamber provides the ability to test over a wide temperature range. In addition, the Composites Application Module for Bluehill® Universal software provides a range of, easy-to-use test methods for international standards (e.g. ASTM, EN, and ISO).

High Productivity with Consistent Results

The Challenge

Maintaining high test productivity along with consistent tensile test results is a challenge. High test productivity, particularly when testing at temperatures, demands that the operator spends as little time as possible loading specimens. Achieving the accurate specimen alignment needed to produce consistent results is difficult given these time constraints.

Traditionally, strain measurements on composite materials have been made using bonded strain gauges but the bonding of strain gauges is a costly and time-consuming process that requires a high degree of skill and experience. Thus, the strain gauging process reduces overall productivity and increases test costs.

Our SolutionComposite

Precise specimen alignment requires an accurately aligned testing set-up and repeatable grips incorporating a reliable means of specimen location.

Both manual and automatic (hydraulic) gripping solutions capable of providing quick specimen loading and accurate alignment are available. These grips can be used in an environmental chamber to test over a range of temperatures.

Extensometers are available for the testing of composite laminate coupons and, in most cases, they can be used to replace strain gauges.  Averaging Axial and Biaxial types provide both average axial and transverse strain measurements (for the determination of Poisson’s ratio).

In cases where bonded strain gauges must be used strain gauge adapters can be used to connect strain gauges directly to the test machine. In addition to contacting solutions, the Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE2) non-contacting video extensometer offers completely automatic operation requiring minimal action from the operator.

Contact Us to learn more about our automotive solutions

Bumper Impact Testing

Automotive

Bumper Impact Testing

The Challenge

Impact testing on plastic components used in cars and motorcycles determines their response to a sudden high-speed mechanical impact providing invaluable safety information. This is exampled by numerous studies completed by automotive companies on vehicle bumpers. To absorb an impact, such as an unintentional bump at low speeds, bumpers must deform in a flexible manner. However, at the same time, they must have the ability to break and dissipate part of the impact energy during a major incident.

These material properties must be determined at a multitude of working temperatures and conditions.

Our Solution

To understand the impact resistance properties of bumper materials, a series of tests on specimens should be conducted, in plaque form, at varying impact energies, velocities, and temperatures. After collecting this data on the raw material, the finished bumper can then be tested under the same set of conditions. Fully instrumenting the test with a tup and data acquisition system, we are able to evaluate how the bumper reacts to an impact event by studying the changes in the load-deformation curves during the test.

Display Panel Testing

Automotive

Display Panel Testing

As infotainment display panels and screens are becoming standard features in many automobiles, it is important for manufacturers to understand their mechanical reliability. These displays need to last the lifetime of the vehicle, much longer than a standard electronic device. Therefore, it is relevant to study their mechanical reliability.

The Challengeautomotive

 

Display panels need to withstand years of abuse.  A multitude of rigorous testing needs to be completed to ensure the panel will last.  Compression testing should be completed on multiple locations on the panel which has historically been very time-consuming.  Additionally, flexure tests are also conducted, sometimes to a point of failure.  Panels can fail out of nowhere and it can be hard to observe the break.  All these factors make display testing challenging.

Our Solution

 

Instron® offers an Automated XY Stage that will move the display panel so that compression testing can be completed at multiple locations.  The stage is driven to different points taught by the operator using the Multi-Test module for Bluehill® Universal software. The test is then automated so all points can be tested in a single run at high speed. Probes of different sizes are available as well.

With a variety of flex/bend fixtures, Instron is able to meet most any display panel bend test need. Fixtures include both 3 and 4 point models with fixed and variable span options. Fixtures also can be altered with a variety of options. If you have a unique bend test need, Instron's Custom Solutions Group can work with you to develop a fixture to your specifications.

Understand failure visually and how it correlates to test data with the TestCam module for test recording and playback. Capture high-speed videos in real time and play them back to get a complete understanding of how the panel reacts at break.

Composite Laminates Compression After Impact Testing

Automotive

Composite Laminates Compression After Impact Testing

Compression After Impact test (CAI) is used to define the damage resistance of composites after an Impact event. An impact on composite laminate panel may result in no visible external damage, but it may generate a dramatic reduction of compressive strength. The design of automotive parts using composite materials should consider the effects of impact on the material properties. These data can be obtained following dedicated standards (i.e. ASTM D7136M, ASTM D7136), using an Instron Drop Tower configured with CAI accessories.

THE CHALLENGE

composites

While having excellent mechanical properties (i.e. strength and stiffness) with a lower weight, compared to their metallic counterparts, composites can exhibit poor tolerance to damage caused by impact. The types of damage can be complex, irregular in shape, and may affect all layers of the structure. Additionally, they may be barely visible or hidden from view.

Low-energy impacts can be considered the most dangerous since the damage they cause may go unnoticed during routine visual inspections of the impacted surface. Impact energies that cause visible damage to the component may be significantly higher than those that have a significant effect on the mechanical properties.

The study of damage tolerance of laminates and the effect of different impact energies on residual strength is crucial.

Our Solution

Instron 9450 impact droptower

With the Instron® 9450 impact droptower, the damage tolerance of laminates can be studied, and the effect of different impact energies on the residual strength can be determined. Performing a CAI test on components shows that materials respond differently to different impact conditions, and enable engineers to design and test composite products more cost effectively.

When configured with an instrumented tup, data acquisition, and software, the force signal from each impact can be captured and analyzed, helping engineers improve their knowledge about the material’s performance. The addition of a special temperature chamber allows the user to investigate how the same material may react in high-temperature environments up to 300°C.

Contact Us to learn more about our automotive solutions.

Bend Test on PCB

Automotive

Bend Test on PCB

AEC-Q200-005-REV (A) defines the standard for verifying the bond strength of surface mount components on finished printed circuit boards (PCBs) to understand their ability to withstand bending, flexing, and pulling forces. Electronics assembly manufacturers for automotive OEMs are interested in learning and characterizing bond strength for adhesives that are used to mount and hold the surface mount components and their leads in place on a PCB.

THE CHALLENGE

The standard requires that the finished PCB be held in position upside down on the lower anvils, and for a force to be applied on the target location using an upper anvil. This bending force needs to be applied for 60 seconds (+5 seconds) until a bending deflection of at least 2 mm is achieved. Once the test is completed, a thorough visual inspection must be performed on the flexed component.

Our Solution

Instron® TestCam Video Recording and Playback module, which provides users with a video recording of how the test was conducted and how the specimen failed for post-test evaluation.

Electrical Wire and Insulation Tensile Testing

Automotive

Electrical Wire and Insulation Tensile Testing

The Challenge
Electrical Wire

Automotive assemblies today are full of various electrical wires and cable harnesses required to transmit power and other signals to control engine operations, the on-board diagnostic computer, fuel injection system, auxiliary lights, dashboard controls, and the increasingly common infotainment system. These wires are routed through sleeves, taped with fabric tape, and inserted through panels. Due to this level of processing and handling there is a high risk of wire damage or breakage. Additionally, since the electronics are located in automobiles, they are often subjected to both high and low temperatures.

Our Solution
Insulation Testing

Instron offers a variety of gripping solutions that are designed to clamp or hold specimens of various sizes. Pneumatic grips are the most commonly used gripping solution for securely holding wires and harnesses. Additionally, a variety of environmental chambers are available and can be set or controlled within Bluehill® Universal software.  Features such as pre-heat and pre-cool are available to ensure the test is run at the specified temperature limits. Instron’s Custom Solutions Group is committed to working with customers on applications that need measurements of electrical signals while testing is performed. Instron’s testing systems offer various communication channels that enable Bluehill Universal to present the electrical signal on the graph along with the force vs. displacement curve.

 

Contact Us to learn more about our automotive solutions.

Button and Switch Compression Testing

Automotive

Button and Switch Compression Testing

The Challenge
Button and Switch Compression

In today's automobiles, a single click of a button or switch is used everywhere, including starting the engine, dashboard controls for entertainment and diagnostic information, and advanced door locking systems. This makes it critical to test the functionality of buttons and switches as the risk of a defective button could be very high, the driver not being able to enter or turn on the vehicle. Mechanically testing buttons is mainly compression testing to understand how much force is required to push a button to engage the electrical signal. This is also known as tactility testing of buttons where OEMs are interested in testing to determine the "feel" of a button.

Our Solution
switch testing

Instron offers various XY stages that can move to test multiple buttons on the same specimen. Standard and custom solutions are available to hold specimens securely during testing.  Instron’s Custom Solutions Group is committed to working with customers on designing probes of different materials and sizes based on specimen and application requirements, in addition to the various standard probes offered.  Instron also offers a multiple point compression software solution strictly designed for testing buttons and switches at high speed, parameters include button height and return height, eliminating long travel times.

Contact Us to learn more about our automotive solutions.

Terminal Strength Test

Automotive

Terminal Strength Test

The Automotive Electronics Council (AEC) has defined standards that are critical for qualifying electrical components used in automobiles. Due to the exponential increase in applications of microelectronics in automobiles, these standards are of extreme importance. AEC-Q200-006-REV (A) defines the standard for verifying component terminal strength in order to withstand axial stresses that are likely applied from the manufacturing process of finished printed circuit boards (PCBs). Electronics assembly manufacturers and OEMs are interested in understanding the solder joint strength of leads of a surface mount device (SMD) bonded to a PCB or other substrate.

THE CHALLENGE

The standard requires a force to be applied on the component axially for 60 seconds, which results in shearing the component. This force should be applied gradually, and should not induce shock on the component.

Our Solution

Instron® offers a dedicated Die Shear Fixture that can be used in single or dual column systems to meet the AEC Q200-006 (A) standard. The fixture has the capabilities to hold a finished PCB in position and shear the target SMD. The adjustable holder of this fixture can account for the various sizes of PCBs, and the linear rail helps the operator to center the shear tool on the component. Different sizes of shear tools are offered based on the dimensions of the SMD.Bluehill® Universal software is used to create test methods as per the standard requirements.

Exhaust Mount Fatigue Testing

Automotive

Exhaust Mount Fatigue Testing

THE CHALLENGE

Engine Mount

With increasing customer expectations for a quality, reliable product, there is a need to fully test all components.  Rubber mounts, such as those used to connect a vehicle’s engine and transmission to its chassis are required to reduce the transmission of vibrations, protecting the rigid frame and leading to a more comfortable ride.  The elastomeric material used in these components tends to naturally degrade. Simulating real-life conditions is critical to ensure the component can meet the designer’s expectations.  Choosing the correct control parameters required to perform this type of test reliably can be challenging and requires a high-performance test instrument.

THE SOLUTION

Fatigue Testing

Engineers began using ElectroPuls® test instruments to easily perform advanced fatigue tests to understand the fatigue life of rubber mounts. These tests not only validate the component by simulating real-life road conditions but also give insights into the damping characteristics of the material. The mounts were tested at different displacement amplitudes using frequency sweeps to represent the different conditions to which the components are subjected. Choosing the correct control parameters for this type of test is made simple thanks to the patented Stiffness Based Auto Tuning of the ElectroPuls, which automatically optimizes the correct control parameters in seconds. Because Instron® provides simple to use software with built-in DMA calculations, it is quick and easy for users to setup and run tests, saving more time to analyze the data.

Chassis and Body High Strain Rate Testing

Automotive

Chassis and Body High Strain Rate Testing

In the automotive sector, development in chassis and body of vehicles is driven by two main aspects, safety, and lightweighting. As the body is the first point of impact during a car crash, modern designs have incorporated features such as crumple zone to absorb most of the initial impact, reducing the force that will reach the passengers. With this in mind, it is essential to understand material behavior under high strain rate, especially during development cycles of metals, alloys, and composites that may be used in chassis or body design. On the other hand, lightweighting provides better fuel economy for the car, decreases component wear and hence provide a much more competitive product overall. Therefore, characterizing how material properties change under high strain rate is important in order to find the optimum design maximizing safety and lightweighting.

Sheet Metal High Strain Rate Testing

The ChallengeChallenge

When considering the crashworthiness of components, testing in high strain rates is essential. As investigated by numerous research, mechanical properties of materials differ drastically under quasi-static conditions and high strain rates. Therefore, accurate data on strain rate dependence of material behavior will provide more realistic computer simulation and evaluation of crashworthiness of structures, whether it is during the development of new alloys or testing automotive components.

Our SolutionVHS High Strain Rate with DIC Camera Setup

To meet the challenges of high strain rate testing, Instron has been the market leader in manufacturing high strain rate testing machines for over 20 years, advancing high strain rate research and testing capabilities on metals with suitable technologies. For testing metals and high-performance alloys, Instron offers a range of VHS systems that can perform tests that will be suited to your application up to a maximum test velocity of 25 m/s, which translates to testing conditions from quasi-static up to a strain rate of 1000/s. Instron also offers fast jaw or slack rod tensile gripping solutions to ensure gripping at test velocity and DIC integration that will provide non-contact strain measurement with the capacity for dedicated strain gauge channels.

 

Composite High Strain Rate Testing

The ChallengeComposites Laminates Compression Challenge

When conducting material research for lightweighting, composites are good alternatives to conventional materials such as steel and aluminum, as composites, in general, have a high strength to weight ratio. However, due to the nature of the material being more complex structurally, they possess very different mechanical properties when subject to high strain rate. In conjunction with manufacturing limitations in making dog bone specimen, testing of composites under high strain rate is more complex than that of metals and alloys. Therefore, having an accurate and reliable testing machine and a gripping solution is essential in driving composite research in the automotive industry.

Our SolutionHigh Strain Rate VHS Testing System with Fast Jaw Grips

For testing composites, Instron provides a range of 8800 High Strain Rate that are suitable for testing composites. Instron also offers fixtures that will be compatible with a composite specimen. Using plasma spray, dowel pin, and pyramid jaw faces, it will provide ample gripping force without inducing surface tear on the composite specimen, in turn preventing failure near grip face. Also, as strain gauges cannot be welded onto composite materials, a high strain rate testing machine with full DIC integration is invaluable in providing a non-contact solution to perform accurate strain measurements.

Seatbelt High Strain Rate Test

Automotive

Seatbelt High Strain Rate Test

In the automotive field, the safety of passengers is key and many research and development efforts have been put to ensure each critical safety component is tested and up to standard. Seatbelts play a big role in car safety as it decreases the momentum of passengers, reducing the force of secondary impacts with interiors and prevents passengers from being ejected from a vehicle in a crash or a sudden stop. 

The Challengecar seatbelt

In the automotive field, the safety of passengers is key and many research and development efforts have been put to ensure each critical safety component is tested and up to standard. Seatbelts play a big role in car safety as it decreases the momentum of passengers, reducing the force of secondary impacts with interiors and prevents passengers from being ejected from a vehicle in a crash or a sudden stop. This greatly reduces the risk of major injuries when used in conjunction with other safety features such as airbags and shock absorbing mechanism in dashboards and steering wheel columns. In addition to tensile strength and durability of seatbelts, the behavior of seatbelt materials under high strain rate is a topic of interest, as polymers exhibit different mechanical properties under high strain rate impact during crashes without breaking.

Our SolutionHigh Strain Rate VHS Testing System with Slack Rod Grips

In order to meet the challenges of characterizing high strain rate behavior of seatbelt material, Instron developed a long stroke variation of the High Strain Rate Testing System VHS. Its static capacity sits at 35 kN, dynamic capacity at 50 kN with a nominal stroke of 600 mm and a maximum test velocity of 20 m/s, which is sufficient for more compliant polymeric components. We have also developed accompanying custom grip fixtures and incorporating DIC onto the system as a non-contact strain measurement system, offering an integrated solution for testing compliant materials under high strain rate.

 

 

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Non-ambient Plastics Tensile Testing

Automotive

Non-ambient Plastics Tensile Testing

Maintaining Specimen Temperature

When working in automotive R&D, awareness of how various materials act at ambient temperature as well as normal operating temperature is important. Many original equipment manufactures have unique temperature requirements that all components need to achieve, for example: -30oC to 80oC. However, engine and transmission components get considerably hotter. It is extremely important to subject the material to these temperatures during testing to understand their performance.

THE CHALLENGE


In order to determine the material's performance at high temperature, it is critical that the temperature of the material is carefully controlled at the required temperature.

our Solution

Environmental Chamber
Instron’s 3119-600 series environmental chambers can accurately control the temperature from -150°C up to 600°C (-240°F to 1110°F) making them suitable for materials of all types within the engine bay.  Optional roller mounting brackets make it easy to move the chamber in and out of the test space to quickly change between ambient and non-ambient testing.  The temperature soak time can be automatically set in Bluehill® Universal and, once complete, the test will start. Alternatively, utilizing TestProfiler you can have different temperatures under different loading conditions during the same test.

Strain Measurement at Non-Ambient Conditions

THE CHALLENGE


When testing inside of an environmental chamber, calculating the modulus of plastics with a traditional clip-on extensometer can be challenging.  When the extensometer needs to be removed during a test, the door to the chamber must be opened.  This can result in a temperature swing in the middle of testing as ambient air floods the chamber.

our Solution

Environmental Chamber
The Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE 2) is designed to work through the optical quality glass on the front of the 3119-600 series environmental chambers.  The AVE 2 is a non-contacting video extensometer and can measure the strain through failure, eliminating the need to open the chamber door during testing, increasing operator safety and enabling accurate strain measurement throughout the test.

 

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Frontal Crash Testing

Automotive

Frontal Crash Testing

THE CHALLENGE

front crash

Development and adaptation of frontal restraint systems are carried out on the basis of international laws and regulations concerning crash protection, and international consumer protection test programs such as NCAP. Crash pulses (acceleration-time histories) are determined during an actual frontal crash and subsequently used for crash simulation on an acceleration sled system. These acceleration sled systems play a crucial role in the expert design and adaptation of advanced safety components such as airbags, seats, child seats, rear seat, seatbelts and belt force limiters, knee padding, steering columns etc. Due to the broad spectrum of requirements and the resulting high number of test runs, advanced acceleration sled systems must be designed for maximum efficiency and productivity.

Our Solution

front crash

Instron's CSAadvanced acceleration sled systems permit the execution of a variety of testing procedures, including dynamic seat tests, frontal crash simulation with synchronized, actively controlled vehicle pitch movement, or testing of cargo restraint systems. With short charging cycles and a high degree of automation, Instron acceleration sled systems can be ready for another shot within 10 minutes. Intelligent solutions for rapid changeover between test setups (such as a 2-piece sled, or pallet systems for a 1-piece sled) enable more than 2000 test cycles to be conducted per year. In addition, the CrashSim-Office software enables crash pulses to be imported and edited offline, outside the test laboratory, including the generation of the associated drive signal for the test and without the need to use the crash simulation rig for validation of the feasibility of a new test pulse. All these features make Instron CSAadvanced acceleration sled systems a highly efficient and powerful development tool.

Side Impact and Whiplash Testing

Automotive

Side Impact and Whiplash Testing

THE CHALLENGE

side crash

The safety of vehicle occupants plays a crucial role in vehicle development. In addition to frontal impacts (Full Width Frontal and Offset Frontal Impact), international standards and guidelines, along with consumer protection programs established in many countries (such as NCAP) define extended crash tests to safeguard the safety of a vehicle. In these tests, vehicles are evaluated specifically with a view to their resistance to side and pole impacts, as well as the risk of sustaining whiplash injuries during a rear impact, also referred to as Low Speed Rear Impact test.

our Solution

side crash

Test procedures that can be carried out on Instron acceleration sled systems include MDB side impact tests, pole side impact tests and whiplash (low speed rear impact) tests.
To perform a barrier side impact simulation, a servo-hydraulically actuated extension facility is used, which can handle the "negative" accelerations encountered during side impact tests. In addition, dedicated sled setups are available allowing loads to be introduced into the dummies used in such a way that compliance with specified limits for head, shoulder and thorax protection criteria can be evaluated.
The Whiplash test is conducted in low-pressure mode. This mode of operation enables compliance with the stricter pulse corridors of the EuroNCAP specifications.
The different test procedures are selected with a simple mouse click. All necessary modifications of the parameters and hydraulic system settings are made fully automatically by the RS CrashSim simulation software.

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Structural Durability

Automotive

Structural Durability

The Challenge

A car consists of an average of 10,000 individual components. During their lifetime, diverse service loads affect most of those vehicle components. That means that the components weaken or wear through their lifetime causing safety and reliability to no longer be guaranteed.
Fatigue damages caused by bad road conditions or extreme driving maneuvers can cause damage to car components which can lead to serious accidents. Currently, automotive manufacturers and their component suppliers carry out extensive functional and service life tests of vehicle components or entire systems in order to avoid personal injuries and property or environmental damages.

Our Solution

Instron offers comprehensive expertise in the areas of service load simulation, comfort, and vibration tests designated for testing passenger cars, buses, trucks, and special vehicles.

The offered solutions give a wide range from simple, single-channel component testing to complex test systems which enable the simulation of all service loads including those under environmental conditions.

A modular concept allows individual test rig components to be customized and tailored to the specific requirements of the application at hand.

With our test and simulation systems, we bring the road directly into your laboratory. All desired real-world conditions can be simulated and reproduced under laboratory conditions.

Sheet Metal Bend Testing

Automotive

Sheet Metal Bend Testing

Repeatable Results

Knowing the formability of metals is absolutely critical in the manufacture and development of automobiles, typical performance indicators for the formability properties are the plastic strain ratio (r-value) and strain hardening exponent (n-value). Bend testing is also vital in drawing conclusions about the forming behavior and the susceptibility to failure of metallic materials during the forming processes dominated by bending deformation but also during crash deformation.

THE CHALLENGE

There are many factors that can affect the results of a test, it is important that these are minimized where possible to ensure accurate and comparable results. For requirements such as a hemming bend, the bending fixture needs to have high stiffness and be strongly secured to minimize the effect of the side load applied during bending.

our Solution

Using Instron’s bend fixtures that include specimen stops which will ensure accurate and repeatable placement of specimens before starting testing. During testing, the high stiffness fixture experiences little movement as high side loads increase when the compressive load is distributed to the bending rollers. Importantly, the rollers are designed to minimize the friction experienced between the roller and specimen during bending.  Additionally, Instron's Custom Solutions Group can provide fixturing that will meet unique testing needs or standards required by some auto manufacturers.

Meeting Different Specifications

THE CHALLENGE

There are many different requirements and specifications for
bend testing from ASTM/ISO as well as individual automotive producers and
automotive groups such as VDA.

Our Solution

There are many different bending fixtures available to meet different requirements. With adjustable span and modular design, it is possible to configure correctly for all requirements. If more accurate displacement measurement is required, LVDT's or extensometers can be easily secured to bending fixtures and automatically integrate with Bluehill® Universal.

 

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Internal Combustion Fatigue Testing

Automotive

Internal Combustion Fatigue Testing

THE CHALLENGE

internal combustion simulation

High pressure gas pulses within the combustion chamber introduce high loads into the engine block, pistons and connecting rods. To accelerate the development process recorded cylinder pressure pulses can be reproduced in the laboratory using hydraulic pressure control.

our Solution

internal combustion simulation

Instron Hydropuls® pressure control units allow the simulation of alternating pressure loads within the combustion chamber. These dynamic pressure test systems can be used to evaluate the fatigue life of various components including the engine block, piston, gudgeon pin, connecting rod, cylinder head and gasket.

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Crankshaft Torsional Fatigue Testing

Automotive

Crankshaft Torsional Fatigue Testing

THE CHALLENGE

crankshaft

Crankshafts convert the forces generated within the cylinder during combustion into torque. During this process, crankshafts are exposed to severe cyclic fatigue loads and the design must be optimized to deliver the required service life. Fatigue testing is therefore essential to validate the design and manufacturing process for these key components.

our Solution

crankshaft

Torsional fatigue testing of the crankshafts of passenger cars and commercial vehicles can be conducted efficiently and reliably with Hydropuls® rotary actuators. Accelerated testing by running at the crankshaft torsional resonant frequency is also possible.
To cover a wide spectrum of test scenarios we offer a variety of rotary actuators with different capacities. We also offer numerous accessories for compensating eccentricity, misalignment, or shortening of specimens under load. Climatic chambers for simulating environmental conditions and temperature are also available.

Non-ambient Metals Tensile Testing

Automotive

Non-ambient Metals Tensile Testing

When working in automotive R&D, awareness of how various materials act at ambient temperature as well as normal operating temperature is important. Many original equipment manufactures have unique temperature requirements that all components need to achieve, for example: -30oC to 80oC. However, engine and transmission components get considerably hotter. It is extremely important to subject the material to these temperatures during testing to understand their performance.

Maintaining Specimen Temperature

THE CHALLENGE

In order to determine the material's performance at high temperatures, it is critical that the temperature of the material is carefully controlled when the desired temperature is reached. For auxiliary parts or components, the temperature requirement will not be as high when compared to the material within the engine block, which will be considerably hotter and can be closer to the melting point of the material which could cause failure.

THE Solution

Environmental Chamber

3119-600 Series environmental chambers can accurately control the temperature from -150oC up to 600oC (-240°F to 1110°F) making them suitable for all types of materials within the engine and transmission assemblies. Alternatively, the 1200°C (2200°F) Model SF-16 three-zone resistance furnaces have a split construction design that facilitates fast and easy loading of a pre-assembled load string. Adjustable stainless steel latches keep the furnace halves locked together during use, but are then easily opened once testing is complete. The temperature soak time can be automatically set in Bluehill® Universal and once complete the test will start.  Alternatively, utilizing TestProfiler you can have different temperatures under different loading conditions during the same test.

Strain Measurement at High Temperature

THE CHALLENGE

The complete stress-strain curve is important because it shows not only the maximum stress and strain a material can handle, but also important properties such as stiffness and yield (where the material becomes completely deformed), and ultimately, how the material will behave in use. Therefore, it is critical to determine the strain during high-temperature testing.

THE solution

There are several choices for extensometry, depending on your requirements and the type of furnace that you have. If the furnace has a port in the side, then a side entry extensometer can be used, these typically have long ceramic arms with the body of the extensometer outside of the temperature. Alternatively, if it is a closed type furnace, a vertical mechanical extensometer such as the W-6183 type is effective.

 

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Dashboard Drop Weight Impact

Automotive

Dashboard Drop Weight Impact

The Challenge

In the automotive field, the safety of passengers is key and drives research and development as well as quality control procedures. Each critical component has to be tested. Looking to gain larger market share in recent years, automotive producers have been including new and original features in car interiors. Besides aesthetics, all of these features have to meet precise technical specifications with regards to strength, durability, and safety. Some of the most critical parts are dashboards and surrounding items such as steering wheel columns, column switches, and airbags. In the event of an accident, the dashboard will absorb a significant amount of the impact energy and, when needed, airbags will deploy. Dashboards are designed to minimize and absorb shocks, their basic construction consists of foam padding and a cover made of PVC. This cover must break in a specific way when an airbag has to deploy to protect the occupants without causing additional injuries.

Our SolutionThermostatic chamber for the Instron 9450 drop tower

To understand the sequence in which the PVC cover breaks as the airbag is deployed, engineers perform impact tests on both samples of the materials used as well as the finished cover itself. The 9450 drop tower paired with both standard and custom fixtures is an ideal solution for this application. The addition of a thermostatic chamber and the high energy options allows the materials to be impacted over a wide variety of temperatures and speeds – up to 24 m/s. By testing both the raw materials and the finished product, engineers can investigate how changes in material selection, design, and manufacturing processes have an effect on impact performance of the cover. This is critical testing for the safety of vehicles passengers.

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Plastics Tensile Testing

Automotive

Plastics Tensile Testing

Plastics have proven to be the predominant material for developing durable, highly customizable, and cost-effective interior components. Corrosion resistant properties allow finished components to last longer with little to no maintenance. The versatility of plastic allows automotive designers to customize interiors while maintaining low costs. Modern manufacturing processes allow a vast array of colors and textures to create an aesthetically pleasing environment for the passengers. Additional benefits include reduced weight and high vibration dampening, increasing the ability to meet environmental regulations.

Variability of Results

THE CHALLENGE

Plastics

Design engineers should find it important to understand the tensile properties of plastics to recognize the benefits and potential risks as they are developing solutions. Standards such as ASTM D638-14 and ISO 527 provide guidelines for test setup to help with comparability between test results. One of the greatest challenges is getting repeatable strain data and to meet the measurement accuracy required in the relevant standards.

our Solution

plastics tensile testing

An extensometer is required to accurately measure strain. The optimal solution is using an automatic extensometer, either a non-contacting type, such as the Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE2), or a contacting type, such as the AutoX 750.  These two types of extensometers will decrease variability in results when compared with clip-on types. This is because, unlike clip-ons, they do not need to be attached by the operator and manually centered onto the specimen.

Standard Compliance

THE CHALLENGE

Many may not be following standards correctly, and our research has shown that much of the time it is a result of the customer simply not being aware of changes made to standards, or misinterpretation of the standard itself. Some of the implications that result from this can be failed audits, lost time investigating why results from different labs do not agree, and production delays.

The goal of any standard is to provide instructions and guidelines around a test so that different companies, labs, or operators are able to test in the same manner, thus allowing the ability to compare results. If all tests were conducted differently, then key information such as material datasheets and part specifications would offer virtually no value.

our Solution

To help our customers to comply with the latest standards we have been offering free educational assistance to anyone that would like it. Our application experts have also produced a large number of default methods conforming to these key standards when using Bluehill® Universal software.

 

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Road Simulation System

Automotive

Road Simulation System

THE CHALLENGE

Ever increasing expectations for vehicle reliability, performance and comfort drive the need to test the complete vehicle under a wide variety of conditions. Where test tracks provide real data, laboratory tests need to accelerate the validation process and need to allow a range of standardized tests under controlled conditions. Typically, these tests need to include durability cycles, performance benchmarks, NVH measurements and ride comfort analysis. Environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and sunlight can also influence performance and also need to be considered in the vehicle validation programs.

our Solution

road sim

Instron road simulators allow tire coupled simulation of a wide range of road conditions to be performed in a laboratory environment. Systems can be configured to provide high wheel pan accelerations and velocities for durability cycles or to input synthetic drive signals for NVH and ride comfort analysis. Systems are available for passenger cars, light trucks and heavy duty vehicles with a variety of wheel pan designs to suit different tire sizes. Wheel base and track adjustments can be automated and the system can be installed inside a climatic chamber to provide the full range of environmental conditions. The Instron road simulators are an indispensable development tool for accelerated validation testing of full vehicles.

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Sheet Metal Tensile Testing

Automotive

Sheet Metal Tensile Testing

Globally, there are increasing efforts to reduce the weight of automobiles, increasing fuel efficiency which aids in the reduction of emissions. Various grades of steel have been the predominant material used for manufacturing automobiles chassis' and body. A new generation of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) are being developed and produced to maintain the automotive industry’s demand for steel. 

Despite this, automotive manufacturers are now also working with aluminum producers to increase the percentage of aluminum used in the production of automobiles. Aluminum offers low density, excellent formability, corrosion resistance, and high strength.

Determining r and n Values

tHE CHALLENGE

Sheet metal product development is currently driven by the demand for increased strength with minimal impact to formability. The automotive industry is the greatest driver for increasing strength, meaning thinner/lighter material can be used in the production of cars, reducing overall emissions. Plastic strain ratio (r-value) and the strain hardening exponent (n-value) are critical mechanical properties that define the formability of these products.

Our Solution

Tensile Testing Sheet Metal

During a tensile test, these formability properties can be determined automatically using Bluehill® Universal software. To determine n-value, axial strain needs to be measured after yield and determined at or between strain values. More traditional contacting extensometers are designed to be removed during the test and may be limited in total travel. Using the latest technology, such as the Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE 2) or the AutoXBiax, strain can be measured throughout the test while ensuring the highest accuracy of results. To determine r-value, the transverse strain must also be measured, traditionally done using an additional extensometer. With either of these devices (AVE 2 or AutoXBiax), axial and transverse strain can be measured at the same time.

Maintaining Specimen Strain Rate

tHE CHALLENGE

The mechanical properties of some metals will be affected by the speed of the test and are therefore ‘strain rate sensitive’. In more traditional stress rate control or crosshead separation rate control, the overall machine stiffness will affect the strain rate, which will cause differences in results. Strain rate control is becoming more and more common as it means results will be more comparable and tests can be faster.

 

our Solution

Using a 'stiff' load frame and gripping technology are vital to be able to achieve the tight tolerances of strain rate. Instron’s controller technology and Bluehill® Universal software with automatic tuning performs stable strain control and complies with ISO 6892-1, ASTM E8/E8M as well as GB/T 228.1.

Implementing Strain Control Will Mean:

  • More repeatable and comparable results - Test results reliable from machine to machine
  • Improved efficiency - Time per test minimized and setup time reduced
  • No need to tune with a specimen when using an Instron testing system
  • Future proofing your laboratory

 

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HDT and Vicat Testing

Automotive

HDT and Vicat Testing

The Challenge

Using lightweight materials such as thermoplastic polymers can help to meet increasing demand for reducing vehicle weight, fuel consumption, and production cost. Automotive interior design is influenced by the proportions, shape, placement, and surfaces for the instrument panel, seats, interior trims, fans and shrouds, etc. Smoothness, feel, and stiffness are just a few of the material characteristics considered when developing automotive interiors.

It is also important to evaluate short-term heat resistance. For example, the dashboard of your car on a hot summer day when the temperatures inside the car could reach up to 50°C (122°F). If the material used to make the dashboard is not tested under these conditions, the dashboard can potentially deform and be damaged.

Our Solution

Instron's HV system allows performing both heat deflection temperature (HDT) and Vicat softening temperature (VST) tests according to both ASTM and ISO standards. The polymer specimen is immersed in a fluid bath where the temperature is raised uniformly at a specific rate (120°C/h or 50°C/h). A predefined load or stress is applied to the specimen in order to measure the temperature at which it shows a set deflection (HDT test) or penetration (VST test). Higher HDT and VST values obtained in a test signify that the tested material is suitable for high-temperature applications, making it a preferable material for automotive applications. In addition to the bulk properties, HDT and VST test results also provide input on the surface properties of a polymer. At temperatures higher than those established by an HDT or VST test, it can be anticipated that the polymer sample undergoes permanent deformation generating further surface defects.

Rigid Plastics Bend Testing

Automotive

Rigid Plastics Bend Testing

Strain Measurement

THE CHALLENGE

When following ASTM D790 for 3-point bend tests, extension taken from the moving crosshead is sufficient for calculating flexural strain. However, some standards, such as ISO 178 require either a direct strain source or corrected extension for determining strain.

our Solution

Plastics Bend Testing

When a direct strain source is required, we recommend using a deflectometer, which is a spring-loaded plunger positioned below the specimen. When the specimen starts to flex, the plunger will compress and strain can be measured using an appropriate extensometer. The deflectometer is compatible with certain clip-on extensometers, Advanced Video Extensometer 2 (AVE 2), as well as the AutoX750 automatic contacting extensometer.

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Knobs and Buttons Tension Torsion Testing

Automotive

Knobs and Buttons Tension Torsion Testing

While the world is moving towards touch technology where we interact with swipes, knobs and buttons are still very common in the interior of automobiles.  Knobs and buttons enable the driver to keep their eyes on the road and use haptic sensing to change the radio, switch on the air conditioning, turn on their seat warmer etc. Haptic sensing refers to a user applying a force or touch to an object and that object applying a force, vibration, click, or motion back to the user. For example, when a driver turns their windshield wipers on there is a mechanical stop accompanied with a click that notifies the driver of the different windshield wiper level. 

tHE CHALLENGE

For automobile manufacturers, quantifying the force and torque to click, twist, press, and pull the various parts in the interior of a vehicle is an important measure. Irregularly shaped parts in the automobile's interior such as steering components, windshield wiper control levers, and dashboard knobs are often small and challenging to grip. In addition to this, the low forces and torque required to twist, press, push, and pull various panel parts also can be challenging.

our Solution

Instron offers a range of t-slot tables and component test plates for both single and dual column test frames for clamping and fixturing difficult to grip components. In addition to this, manual screw side action grips are ideal to use because the grip face can be offset in order to keep forces within the center of the load string. A variety of jaw faces can also be interchanged to provide an optimized gripping surface.

Low force and low torque measurements are especially difficult to measure using bi-axial load cells. Bi-axial load cells measure both axial load and torque. Noise from a load cell generally comes from two areas: the load cell design and the signal conditioning electronics. The design of a biaxial load cell is considerably more complicated than a standard axial-only or torque-only load cell as there is cross interference between channels. Instron offers load cells ranging in capacity.

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Seating Foam Compression Testing

Automotive

Seating Foam Compression Testing

Cyclic Loading

Car manufacturers utilize foam materials primarily for seating purposes. The consumer is continuously interacting with the material and it's material properties can directly affect the consumer's ownership experience. As such, manufacturers perform rigorous testing of foam materials to ensure their safety, durability, and comfort. Various tests are performed in order to characterize the material's properties as they relate to the support profile and long-term consumer comfort.

THE CHALLENGE

Simple compression testing is not adequate in quantifying the material properties of foam materials. Car manufacturers often require cyclic testing in order to better analyze the performance of foam materials.

The two most common tests performed are indentation force deflection (IFD) and hysteresis testing. IFD is defined as the amount of force required to indent a platen of a specified thickness into the material. This test is often performed repeatedly on various sections of the material to best characterize its support profile. Hysteresis testing measures the difference between loading and unloading energy of the material. This helps car manufacturers understand the comfort and support provided to consumers when getting in and out of the seat.

our Solution

Compression Platen

Offered as an add-on to Bluehill® Universal software,  TestProfiler allows the user to create advanced multi-step tests with unprecedented flexibility. Within the powerful yet easy-to-use architecture, cyclic tests can quickly be created to perform both IFD and hysteresis tests.

The required calculations can be easily implemented within the software, and graphical displays can be filtered to only show relevant loading cycles. This gives the user the control to view information most important to them, and more easily gain insight into their product.

 

Compression

THE CHALLENGE

Most foam compression tests performed by automotive manufacturers are based off ASTM D3574, which has very specific fixture requirements. Most automotive companies internal standards share the same requirements.

The standards require the support plate to be perforated with 6.5 mm diameter holes and 20 mm spacing. The holes allow for the rapid escape of air during the test. The standard also dictates the use of a swivel indenter foot which ensures proper alignment when axial loading is applied to the specimen, ensuring the most accurate and repeatable results.

our Solution

The Custom Solutions Group at Instron has designed a foam compression fixture, 2810-130, which meets all of the requirements laid out in ASTM D3574, and is able to seamlessly integrate with our Electromechanical Testing Machines.

The design utilizes a spherically seated compression platen and an aluminum support base. The support base can be set up in minutes, using the Instron bolt pattern on the base of the frame. The compression platen can attach directly to the load cell.

 

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Textiles Testing

Automotive

Textiles Testing

In the automotive sector, textiles must be aesthetically pleasing but also be durable to survive years of abuse. Automobile owners will see the interior of the vehicle every time they enter, so the importance of aesthetics cannot be understated. The automotive market is incredibly competitive, so any advances in the material technology of these textiles can provide a substantial advantage.

Textile Tensile Testing

The Challenge

Textiles can be difficult to test because they are a unique combination of being delicate, yet also strong in the tensile direction. This can make gripping these materials challenging.

Our Solution

Instron offers many solutions for high-strength textiles that can be difficult to grip properly.

Capstan grips allow for very high-strength specimens (seatbelts, for example) to be optimally gripped without allowing slippage while also not damaging the material, inducing premature failure. The capstan wraps specimens around its smooth surface.

Cord and yarn grips function on the same principle as capstan grips, creating a long smooth surface along which the stress concentrations can be spread, greatly reducing the chances of premature failure for cord and fiber specimens.

Textile Pendulum Impact Testing

The Challenge

Many cars have leather interiors, leather gives a delicate touch of luxury and elegance to any car.  It can be important to check the quality of leather used to cover airbags, including its behavior after sunlight and climate exposure.

Our Solution

Determining the performance of a material covering airbags involves many factors. Measuring the tensile strength of leather is determined during an impact according to ISO 8256 Method A. This can be achieved with a CEAST 9050 Impact Pendulum, the specimen (horizontally-oriented) is supported and clamped through a special vice. The free end of the specimen is clamped through a crosshead that will be impacted by the hammer. VisualIMPACT software allows for easy analysis of the test results. The material’s failure behavior would affect the way the leather cover of the airbag would break during an impact event and is therefore critical to the safety of the passengers.

Airbag Material Testing

THE CHALLENGE

Textiles can be difficult to test, especially some of the more durable types of textiles used for airbag material. The toughness of the material combined with the specimen’s uniform cross-sectional area can result in slippage during testing or premature specimen failure at the gripping point (jaw breaks).

THE Solution

Instron has created a set of integrated wedges that can easily be mounted on a set of 2712-04X grips. These pneumatic side action grips combined with the integrated wedges allow for testing of high-strength strips of material without slippage or jaw breaks while maintaining high throughput.

The wedges can easily be removed, and the grips can then be used as normal pneumatic side action grips.

The wedges are mounted directly to the grips, and specimens are wrapped around the wedge insert so that the amount of material being gripped is effectively doubled. Standard serrated jaw faces are then able to grip the material without inducing jaw breaks.

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Biaxial Wheel Fatigue Test

Automotive

Biaxial Wheel Fatigue Test

Wheels are safety-critical components of any vehicle and are exposed to severe loads over their lifetime. Their reliability can only be safeguarded by performing tests under laboratory conditions which resemble actual loading conditions as closely as possible. Based on an idea from the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, the Biaxial Wheel Test Facility has been completing validations since the early 1980´s. This test procedure became a standard at most European wheel producers and was also introduced as SAE wheel standard J 2562, in 2003. Standardized load profiles like Euro-Cycle or AK-Cycle had been developed which could reduce the test time to a minimum by transforming damage content of the original design spectra of 300,000 km to an accelerated one of only 10,000 km. Today, an additional method for the generation of a load profile is available. By using the “Hayes Lemmerz” method the ZWARP’s control parameter could be determined directly from the wheel forces without the need for the long detour of a strain gauge measurement.

The Challenge

Zwarp Challenge

Wheels are critical safety-relevant components of the vehicle which are exposed to severe loads over the lifetime. Their reliability can only be safeguarded by performing tests under laboratory conditions which resemble actual loading conditions as closely as possible. 

Our Solution

Zwarp Solution

The Biaxial Wheel Test (ZWARP) developed by Instron includes an additional hydraulic actuator which allows a controlled and highly accurate adjustment of the angle of attack to produce high lateral forces. It is also distinguished by its compact design, high robustness, and extremely high reproduction quality.

By using this so-called “Hayes Lemmerz” method, the ZWARP’s control parameter could be determined directly from the wheel forces without the need for the long detour of strain gauge measurement.

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Tire Cord Tensile Test

Automotive

Tire Cord Tensile Test

THE CHALLENGE

Tire cord is extremely strong, and gripping the test specimen can be challenging. Designed to be strong and durable, these cords provide critical reinforcement and structure to tires, and are an integral part of the automobile’s safety. Testing must be performed with utmost care, making sure to avoid inducing early failure from gripping incorrectly.

THE Solution

Instron has a range of capacities for cord grip's that were designed specifically for these hard-to-grip specimens. These grips have a smooth, curved face that distributes the stress evenly along a large section of the specimen, greatly reducing the chance of jaw breaks.

Tire Rubber Tensile Test

Automotive

Tire Rubber Tensile Test

The elongation of elastomers is critically important to tire manufacturers, as this property helps predict how tires may behave during use.  This property, however, can create challenges in testing.

Strain Measurement

THE CHALLENGE

Tire

While extensometers are not required by the most common standards (ASTM D412 and ISO 37), a strain measurement device is recommended to ensure the most accurate and repeatable results.   Traditional clip-on extensometers do not provide sufficient travel for elastomeric testing.

In addition, for many customers testing elastomeric tire materials at varying temperatures is critical.

OUR SOLUTION

AVE 2

The Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE 2) is a non-contacting extensometer which is ideal for elastomeric materials. The AVE 2 is capable of measuring strain up to 2400% with a 1-inch gage length and can also measure strain up to break. It does not require contact with the specimen and therefore does not produce pinch points which may cause a premature failure and an invalid test. The AVE 2 can be used to measure strain inside of an environmental chamber when testing at non-ambient conditions.

Instron's XL long travel extensometers can also be used through break and are designed to work for elastomeric materials.  The adjustable clamping force on the knife edges reduces premature failure of the specimen.  Strain can be measured up to 3000% with a 1-inch gage length.

Gripping of Elastomers

tHE CHALLENGE

During testing, rubber materials can typically see significant thinning as they experience high elongation.  This can cause extrusion from the grips and result in slipping and non-valid test results.  Over tightening the grips, however, can result in jaw breaks and premature failure.

OUR SOLUTION

The 2712-04x series pneumatic side action grips are capable of maintaining a constant pressure throughout the test.  The adjustable inlet pressure ensures that the pressure can be optimized to eliminate both slipping and jaw breaks.  The patented quick-change jaw faces make it easy to change faces to best suit your material.

Alternatively, a self-tightening eccentric roller grip can be used. These grips use a serrated eccentric roller to clamp the specimen throughout the test.  As the load increases on the elastomeric material, the off-center nature of the roller increases clamping force preventing the specimen from slipping out of the grips.

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In Situ Testing

Automotive

In Situ Testing

Not all human interactions with automotive components are purely axial and always vertical. If only using a vertical, axial frame, this can create a challenge for the fixture design or prove to be impossible to test in situ. It is important to test final components in the way that the end user will interact with them.

THE CHALLENGE

Shifting an automatic or manual transmission is not a purely linear motion. As you shift between gears, the gear shift moves through an arc. If this test was forced into a linear axial system, a complex fixture design would be needed and the gear shift would have to be placed on its side, not mimicking the real-life application.

our Solution

The Electric Actuator is a modular tester which has the flexibility to be easily mounted and installed to suit the application. Flexibility in mounting allows the customer to mount the actuator in any angle to simulate the final use scenario. If the actuator is mounted on a trunnion, it enables it to pivot a move through an arc as the shifter moves between gears.

Braking

THE CHALLENGE

Actuating the brakes in a car is not a purely vertical motion. The user approaches the brake at an angle and pushes down through that angle. It would also be nearly impossible to test the final assembly – brakes and pedals installed in the car – with a standard universal testing machine frame.

our Solution

The Electric Actuator is a modular tester which has the flexibility to be easily mounted and installed to suit the application. The flexibility in mounting allows the customer to mount the actuator from any angle to simulate the final use scenario. The electric actuator can also be mounted onto a rig installed in the car and act as the human leg/foot does as the brake pedal is depressed.

 

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Shock Absorbers Impact Test

Automotive

Shock Absorbers Impact Test

The automotive industry remains one of the most common and vulnerable to impact events. Depending on the component, impact damage can have a minor effect on appearance or lead to a major failure in vehicle safety. Both car assemblers and OEM part suppliers must comply with strict safety standards in order to produce high-quality products. Automotive test standards and regulations place an emphasis on impact performance of assemblies and components.

The Challengeautomotive

Shock absorbers used in an automotive suspension assembly can experience impact damage. In real life conditions, these dampers are exposed to multiple impacts and are expected to make vibrations as smooth as possible (e.g. speed bumps). It’s necessary for suppliers to understand the behavior of the rubber damper or plastic part connected to it after repeated impact cycles.

Our SolutionShock Absorber Impact Test

Instron designed a special tall thermostatic chamber for a 9450 Drop Tower to accommodate a 600 mm tall damper assembly and developed a dedicated software module to perform multiple impacts on it. This software module enables automatic repetitive impact tests up to 1200 consecutive cycles to simulate the actual use scenario. This helped our customer with new product development and material selection for dampers to be used in this application.

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Drive Shaft Torsion Testing

Automotive

Drive Shaft Torsion Testing

The Challenge

Because they rotate at very high speeds and experience high torque forces, driveshafts must be precisely balanced and weighted. Inferior driveshafts can cause problems that affect the drivability of the vehicle. 

Most commonly made of steel, a driveshaft transfers power from the transmission to the wheels of a vehicle. As the drive for light weighting increases the range of materials used in automobiles, composite driveshafts are now being developed; made of carbon and polymer fiber that are designed to break into small fiber fragments upon failure, increasing safety. Composite driveshafts are also lighter weight (than typical steel) with higher torque capacity, higher rpm value, and reduced noise and vibration.

Determining the torque and rotation properties of driveshafts is critical to determine the performance and quality of these safety critical components.

Our Solution

Torsion Testing Composite Drive Shaft on MT10

Instron® MT Series systems offer a range of capacities for torsion testing ideal for testing drive shafts. These systems offer accurate, multi-turn capability with high torsional stiffness. Adjustable horizontal test openings and lathe chuck grips facilitate easy specimen loading.

The system utilizes powerful Bluehill® Universal software, with a specific torsion application module providing default methods. The TestProfiler module can also be used for more complex loading scenarios, such as applying torque at different rates within the same test or cyclic testing.

 

Axle Test System

Automotive

Axle Test System

THE CHALLENGE

axle test

Time to market pressure increases the demand to test at the sub-system level, and axle development is one area where designs can be validated prior to having the prototype vehicle available. Complete axles, including sub frames, steering systems, drive shafts, stabilizers, brakes, and active components need to be tested as a system using road loads, strains, accelerations, and vehicle control signals to accurately simulate track conditions and validate service life. Electric vehicle development can add to the challenge by introducing drive motors into the axle design, and the need to simulate characteristics, such as drive and brake torques, reaction torques, motor mass, and control systems.

our Solution

axle test

Instron® axles test systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles allow development engineers to simulate road loads on a complete axle sub-system. The spindle coupled design allows the introduction of all six axes of force and displacement at each wheel. Further control axes can be integrated, such as steering input, engine mount simulation, and control of active components such as stabilizers. The axle is mounted into a support frame which reproduces the vehicle mounting points and then, using data from wheel force transducers and other sensors, it’s possible to run accelerated durability cycles and validate the service life of the axle assembly. A suite of analysis software is available for on-line monitoring and post-test analysis of the results. A high dynamic performance coupled with a low cost of ownership makes the Instron axle test system a valuable asset in the development process.

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Clutch Durability Testing

Automotive

Clutch Durability Testing

THE CHALLENGE

clutch test

As the interface between engine and transmission, clutch system are exposed to high dynamic loads under harsh environmental conditions.
In addition to quickly and reliably separating and connecting the power from the engine to the transmission the clutch must also ensure the smooth startup of the vehicle whilst damping the torsional vibrations in the drive train. New transmission designs introduce further demands for clutch performance and service life which are reflected in the continued development and testing of these key components.

our Solution

clutch test

Instron's dynamic clutch test rig allows a co-axial torsion test, in which both quasi-static and highly dynamic torque loads can be generated while the clutch is rotating. The test rig enables validation of the durability and the performance characteristics of clutch components. Inclusion of thermal loads enables the entire lifecycle of clutch components to be simulated.

Drive Shaft Durability Testing

Automotive

Drive Shaft Durability Testing

THE CHALLENGE

driveshaft

Under driving conditions, drive shafts are exposed to a full range of service loads. To ensure optimum transmission of the torque from the gearbox or differential to the wheels, drive shafts must compensate for the suspension geometry and wheel accelerations whilst ensuring perfect synchronism between the joints at all times. To test the durability of drive shafts, dynamic torques have to be introduced over the full range of movement and under various environmental conditions.

our Solution

driveshaft

Hydrostatically mounted Hydropuls® rotary actuators are ideally suited to the generation of torsional loads. The standard models provide angular amplitudes up to ±50° and torque up to ±60kNm to simulate the range of service angles and dynamic load. To cover a wide spectrum of test scenarios we offer a variety of rotary actuators with different capacities. We also offer numerous accessories for compensating eccentricity, misalignment, or shortening of specimens under load. Climatic chambers for simulating environmental conditions and temperature are also available.

Rheology of Tire Rubber

Automotive

Rheology of Tire Rubber

The Challenge

Tires are manufactured worldwide for cars, trucks, industrial vehicles, and common conveyances such as baby carriages, bicycles etc. A tire is a strong and flexible rubber casing attached to the rim of a wheel that provides a gripping surface for traction and serves as a cushion for the wheels. Natural or synthetic rubber are typically the primary material use in tire production however, thermoplastic elastomers are often used to produce tires. Thermoplastic elastomers have the same mechanical and chemical properties, but can also be easily recycled and processed via extrusion and injection molding techniques (common methods used for thermoplastics). A tire manufacturer needed to study their rubbery compound for its viscosity properties and swelling at the exit of the die. The sample consisted of an elastomer, carbon black, and additives in form of flat sheets.

Our Solution

A capillary rheometer is a useful tool for determining flow characteristics of thermoplastic elastomers to understand their behavior during the processing phase. Besides determining the rheological curve (viscosity vs shear rates), it is often useful to study the extrudate swelling characteristics thanks to an add-on laser device for swell measurements. A CEAST SR20 (equipped with a 20 kN load cell) is used to perform both rheological tests according to ISO 11443 and die swell tests. The rheological test was carried out at 100°C spanning shear rates between 1 to 1000 s-1 through a capillary die and a twin bore configuration was used to perform two tests simultaneously. This material showed a non-Newtonian behavior with a viscosity ranging from 100,000 Pa*s at 1 s-1 shear rate to 800 Pa*s at 1000 s-1. Overall, the sample showed good repeatability and reproducibility of results. Furthermore, a die swell test was carried out by using the CEAST die swell laser system to study the influence of swell in this compound upon exit from the die.

Metal Bolt Testing

Automotive

Metal Bolt Testing

In the manufacture of automobiles, metallic bolts are used in large volumes ranging in application from high strength required for structural assembly to securing lightweight parts to the vehicle. Whatever the application they are used for, testing is critical to determine if they will be suitable for the application and/or to ensure they are meeting the quality standard.

Quality Control for High Volume Production

THE CHALLENGE

Bolts are typically produced in extremely large
quantities, testing needs to be completed as quickly as possible to ensure the
product can be shipped.

our Solution

Bolt testing accessories enable proof tests, axial and wedge tensile tests, and cone stripping tests on most standard bolts, screws, studs, and nuts. They are compatible with most universal and tensile testing machines. Available accessories consist of: Bolt holders, washers, short bolt adapters, nut proof loading assemblies, and holder reducing assemblies.

Each bolt holder has a key slot that allows the operator to quickly and correctly load the specimen. A recessed circular area in the bottom of each bolt holder ensures that the washer will fit snugly (sheet metal alignment device is used on Series E holders). This reduces loading time and occurrences of slippage, because a secure, centered seating is ensured for each test.

Short Bolt Lengths

THE CHALLENGE

The length of each type of bolt can vary hugely depending on
the application. Many are quite short, which can make gripping these for a
tension test extremely challenging. The typical tension test setup for bolts
uses a high strength plain and threaded washer, the thickness of these two
components can often mean that there is not sufficient shank left exposed to test.

OUR SOLUTION

"Top Hat" or "Dumbell" type accessories protrude out of the bold
holder fixtures allowing shorter lengths of bolts to be tested.

Nut Proof Loading

THE CHALLENGE

As well as testing the bolt, the nuts that secure to
the bolts also need to be tested. This requires attaching the nut to a mandrel
that is stronger than the threads of the nut to determine what the maximum load of the threads within the nut are. 

our Solution

Using high strength nut proof load assemblies
allows mounting into the standard bolt holders to complete this test quickly
and easily.

Measuring Strain and Multi Step Loading

THE CHALLENGE

For some testing, an extensometer may be required to accurately determine the yield strength and stiffness of the bolt, however, the extensometer needs to be removed during the test to prevent damage to the instrument due to high energy failures. To do this after yield has been determined, the test needs to return to zero load and then continue the test once removed to test through failure.

our Solution

Bluehill Universal

Using Bluehill® Universal software with TestProfiler allows for complex ramp loading during the test. Enabling seamless and automatic switch over meeting the requirements of the standards while allowing safe removal of the extensometer.

Shear Strength

THE CHALLENGE

In their application, bolts are often subjected to shear
forces, these can be in single shear or in double shear. It is important to
understand how the bolts will perform under these shear forces to ensure there
are no product failures.

our Solution

Instron’s single or double shear fixtures can attach simply to any universal testing machine. The double shear test is completed in compression against a fixture supporting either side of a punch, whereas the single shear is conducted in tension as the bolt is mounted through the fixture. These tests are typically performed until the initial yield in shear, further elongation may cause damage to the fixtures.

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Joining High Strain Rate Testing

Automotive

Joining High Strain Rate Testing

The ChallengeJoining

Welding and bolting are widely used techniques to join metal components while adhesives are increasingly popular as a more cost-effective joining method while offering a better reduction in vibration noises and improving aesthetics of vehicles. The constant demand for new materials that are lighter or stronger necessitates advancements in joining techniques, which facilitate the joining of new combinations of materials and have potential contributions to the overall lightweighting of a vehicle. Materials exhibit different behavior under high strain rate conditions. Therefore, by investigating materials and their corresponding joined structures at various strain rates, engineers are able to understand the merits of new materials and joining techniques against established methods during crash impacts, validate and improve upon existing crash simulations.

Our SolutionHigh Strain Rate VHS Testing System with Fast Jaw Grips

In order to accommodate investigation of joined structures in high strain rate impact, Instron provides a wide range of accessories that will allow mounting of various structures, including any offset mounting and custom fixtures. Instron VHS also includes a high-stiffness frame that will provide greater repeatability and higher system resonance and t-slot tables come as standard on all VHS systems for easy mounting of components, providing a reliable and fully integrated high strain rate testing solution that is intuitive to use.

Plastic Welds Tensile Testing

Plastic Welds Tensile Testing

Automotive

Plastic Welds Tensile Testing

Specimen Gripping

As more and more components of cars are made using plastic, testing must be done to ensure that different plastic components will stay bonded together.  From dashboards to gas caps, polymeric materials ranging from nylon to polypropylene can be found throughout vehicles.  Plastic welding techniques such as vibration and laser welding are used to join different plastic components, in addition to traditional adhesive methods.  To ensure that the bonds are sufficiently strong, tensile testing can be performed both during product development and quality control.

THE CHALLENGE


Testing bonded materials can often result in gripping challenges. The specimen tabs are often not in a straight line, which can cause off-center loading and inaccurate results.

our Solution


Intron’s advanced screw action and 5 kN and 10 kN pneumatic side action grips can be adjusted to be offset to ensure that the bonded area is in the center of the load string and the load is applied axially. Both types of grips can be equipped with a variety of different jaw faces suitable for almost any material.

For testing specimens that cannot be gripped with traditional methods, Instron offers component test plates and t-slot tables enabling operators to grip specimens of any shape and size.

 

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Adhesive Testing

Automotive

Adhesive Testing

As the drive for light weighting increases the range of materials used in automobiles, the requirement for reliable ways of joining these materials grows in importance. Adhesive joining technology is capable of joining dissimilar materials and can offer improved performance over traditional methods in many situations, however, careful qualification and quality controls are needed to ensure reliable results.

Adhesive Dynamic and Static Testing

THE CHALLENGE

As adhesives find their way into even more arduous automotive applications, the need to understand their static and fatigue behavior under different environmental conditions grows.

A variety of techniques can be employed to test the mechanical properties (e.g. strength and stiffness) of adhesive joints. Measuring the strength of an adhesive joint between rigid parts is usually performed using a lap-shear test. Various forms of peel tests are used to measure the strength of joints between flexible and rigid/flexible parts.

Fracture toughness tests are used to explore crack growth in bonded joints under both static and fatigue loading. The results of fracture toughness tests can provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of adhesion and the reasons for joint failure.

OUR SOLUTION

Instron’s range of electromechanical and dynamic testing machines are well suited for all types of adhesive joint testing. A range of grips and fixtures are available to assess the strength of adhesives. Tests on lap-shear specimens are commonly performed using either; wedge action grips, screw operated side action grips or pneumatic grips. Peel test fixtures include; 90° peel, variable angle, floating roller and rotating wheel types. Specialty fixtures such as the climbing drum peel fixture are available for testing the adhesive bonds in sandwich core materials. Bluehill® Universal software is ideal for static adhesive testing and an optional Adhesives Application Module includes a number of pre-configured test methods to ASTM, EN and ISO standards.

Fatigue tests on adhesive joints can be performed on dynamic machines using fatigue rated mechanical or hydraulic grips. Adhesives are often tested under various environmental conditions, in this case, Instron environmental chambers are available.

Adhesive Impact Testing

The Challenge

As automotive design evolves, adhesives are rapidly replacing mechanical fasteners as a conventional solution for joining many metals, plastics, rubbers, and glass. Specially formulated adhesives used to bond structural frame assemblies, windshields, and other components can offer improved aesthetics, reduced noise & vibration (NVH), as well as reduced manufacturing costs. With increased use of adhesives however, automotive and adhesives suppliers must develop new test protocols to ensure the structural integrity of the bonds under all possible field conditions. Impact forces in a crash may cause bonded areas of the frame or windshield to fail, resulting in serious injury to vehicle passengers.

Our Solution

Automotive and adhesives suppliers commonly use ISO 11343 wedge-peel impact testing method to compare the relative effects of various product and process variables on impact performance. Instron has developed standard as well as custom test configurations based on ISO 11343. Including a unique support fixture and striker arrangement to impact windshield specimens bonded to auto frame components. Packaged with an Instron thermostatic chamber, this impact system can enable research and development facilities to experiment with different material compositions, cure conditions, and temperatures to optimize product performance and comply with government regulations.