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SPONSORSHIP
Dr. Ali Gordon and Mechanics of Material Research Group (MOMRG)
ali.gordon@ucf.edu
407-823-4986

For the process of material testing, one must often purchase an expensive test frame that takes up much space and only allows for only a few experiments. Many times,these machines have specific parameters with which it can be tested and must be sent back to the manufacturer to repair in the event of a technical failure.Creep and fatigue tests are one of the many kinds of tests done with these test frames. Creep testing is generally done under high temperatures for the particular specimen in question and can be done under a constant load, called static notch testing, or under a variable load, call cyclic rupture testing. These tests are used to understand how materials will react in high pressure and high temperature environments such as engine turbines. If these tests can be made more accessible, then many could conduct their own tests without having to pay the exorbitant prices that some places charge.With this problem in mind, Dr. Gordon approached Alan Beauchamp, Justin Ewing, and Devon Jackson with the opportunity to design and build a test frame that would be able to  complete the various tests that he conducts in his lab. He asked that they design a user-friendly interface that can perform any creep crack experiment, while being able to log accurate data, run continuously for months, and be able to run independently of any computer connection.In addition to the basic specifications, we were asked to make the entire design portable, so that it can be moved to a different location during the test in question. Because of this, the power sources and integrated circuits must be light as a whole and easy to carry.The graphical user interface(GUI) must be easy to use and intuitive. It should be allowed for the experimenter to conduct a dynamic range of tests with many different parameters it allows for changing of parameters because of different systems and sensors while the experiment is being initialized. Also there should be a carrying case that has a display and control functions for when there is no computer attached. The control functions that are on the carrying case are start, stop, pause, resume, reset, actuator up/down, and emergency stop. In addition to these buttons, there is also a display screen that shows the status of all the sensors and loop elements.