The history, development and application of a uniformly applied load wide plate testing machine

The system as described and currently employed is arranged to apply a uniform load distribution but by control of the pressure applied to each individual pair of loading units any desired load distribution could be achieved. The machine could be converted if necessary into a biaxial stressing unit. Transverse loading could be applied in a similar manner to the vertical loading by the provision of slotted flanges at the vertical edges of the test plates loaded by loading units placed either inboard or outboard of the existing vertical units their location depending on the desired ratio of the two mutually perpendicular stresses. Owing to the cheapness of the basic components, standard hydraulic jacks, cast steel compression members and bearings etc, together with the free-standing design requiring no elaborate foundations and only simple lifting equipment the machine provides a relatively inexpensive testing facility providing realistic loading conditions. (orig./DG)