Instrumentation for multiaxial mechanical testing of inhomogeneous elastic membranes

Abstract

This thesis presents the design, development, and construction of an instrument for biaxial mechanical testing of inhomogeneous elastic membranes. The instrument incorporates an arrangement of linear motion stages for applying arbitrary deformation profiles on the material under test, purpose-built two-axis force transducers for high-resolution measurement of applied loads, and a digital imaging system for full-field strain measurement. The components described herein provide the foundation for a sophisticated biaxial testing platform for determining the mechanical properties of anisotropic, inhomogeneous membrane materials.