An apparatus for tensile testing of engineering materials

Abstract

We develop a novel apparatus and a n associated test protocol to measure the tensile response of materials. The apparatus allows testing of ring - shaped specimens , fibre yarns and tapes of arbitrary length ; it can be employed to conduct experiments at different strain rates and in different environmental conditions . The technique is tested at low rates of strain on several materials, including carbon fibres, metals, polymers and ceramics ; the tensile respon ses measured with the new apparatus are compared to those obtained from conventional measurements and found to be in good agreement with these .