Thios research equipment award will assist in the procurement of mechanical loading systems for the application of time-dependent biaxial loading. The equipment involved consists essentially of two independent load actuators to apply forces in the x and y direction with independent servo controllers on each axis. The actuators are restrained by a hexagonal loading frame. This equipment will be utilized to study the behavior of composite materials under biaxial states of stress. Research plans include studies of polymers-matrix composites (silicon ccarbide in titanium and graphite in aluminum). Studies of these materials will focus on non-linear deformation, static failure criteria, delamination, damage initiation and growth, and compressive stability.
