TENSILE TESTING DEVICE FOR MICROSTRUCTURED SPECIMENS

For identifying constitutive properties of materials used in microstru ctures, a micro tensile testing-machine is developed. The concept of a load frame, consisting of two parallel positioned springs is used in designing the micro tensile testing-machine. The load frame is install ed in a conventional tensile testing machine. The two parallel springs ensure axial loading of the specimen, even if the pull rods of the te sting machine should not be absolutely axial. First experimental resul ts indicate that this testing-system can be used successfully for dete rmining constitutive properties of microspecimens.