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Composite Materials Laboratories
At the heart of the Composites Program in the Mechanical Engineering Department
is the Composite Materials Research Group (CMRG). The CMRG facilities are
state-of-the-art with facilities for the preparation, processing, and testing
of a wide range of composite material compositions and configurations. The
facilities include a resin spray and lay up area, a Neat Resin Curing
Laboratory, a Non-destructive Inspection Laboratory, a Specimen Machining
Laboratory, a Composites Fabrication Laboratory, a Mechanical Testing
Laboratory and a Specialized Testing Laboratory. The Composites Fabrication
Laboratory machinery includes a filament-winding machine, hand and automatic
injection-molding machines, a pultrusion machine, several sizes of heated
presses, an autoclave and various sizes of curing ovens. The Mechanical Testing
Laboratory has a full complement of computer controlled MTS and Instron Universal
Testing Machines. Laboratory classes are frequently held in the research area
allowing students the opportunity to experience first hand composite material
technology through the entire cycle of design, fabrication and testing.
Testing Capabilities
Universal Test Frames
| MTS 810 | 0-5000 pounds |
| Instron 1321 | 0-20,000 pounds axial 0-10,000 inch-pounds torsional |
| Instron 1334 | 0-100,000 pounds |
| Tinius-Olsen | 0-400,000 pounds |
| Tensile Creep Frames | Dead weight up to 5000 lb. |
| Flexural Creep Frames | Low loads, specimens are 0.5 inch X 6 inch |
Environmental Conditioning
| Environmental Chambers | -300ºF to 600ºF |
| UV Chamber | UV and condensation exposure |
| Furnace | RT to 1700ºC |
| Thermal Cycling Chamber | -40ºC to 300ºC