Axel Products has installed a new Instron VHS 160/100-20 high strain rate system.
After nearly a year long installation, the system is producing spectacular results! The system can perform tensile experiments at 20 meters per second. And the system can generate a 100 kN force while going 20 meters per second; it doesn’t slow down.
Equipped with FastJaw grips, environmental chamber (-40C to 200C) and high speed Photron cameras, we are only beginning to understand what we have.
The instrument has (2) 1500 liter/minute (400 GMP) hydraulic servovalves that operate at 290 Bar (4100 psi). The stall force is 160 kN.
Typical high strain rate testing at Axel doesn’t use this much energy. However, our previous 10 kN and 35 kN systems would slow down significantly while straining strong plastics at a 100/s straining rate. This issue is resolved.
The FastJaw gripping system is an Instron commercial offering. Instead of using a slacking grip that has some bounce when engaged, the FastJaw “grabs” the load string instantly. This eliminates the bounce that may occur with other slack grip systems.
We have performed plastic tensile tests at 500/s and 1000/s straining rate.
The system is still new to our laboratory. We’re excited to see where this capability takes us!
Instron FastJaw grip.
