Other

R Allen Boyack

Larry D Sawyer

Albert H Lepie

Frank E Hudson

A flywheel tensile testing apparatus for viscoelastic materials is used for high-rate tensile testing to determine the mechanical properties such as the initial modulus, the stress-strain characteristics, energy at break, and void formation of energetic materials such as solid propellants and plastic bonded explosives under deformation rates in excess of 20,000 inches per minute. The tensile tester is comprised of a plurality of support trestles which are mounted on a common base. A flywheel and a light weight engagement wheel are mounted for rotation on the support trestles. A clutch and rotor assembly is located between the flywheel and the light weight engagement wheel so that when the clutch is engaged, the stored energy of the flywheel is transferred to a rotor assembly which in turn drives the light weight engagement wheel. The flywheel is driven by a variable speed motor. The activation of the clutch and rotor assembly are preferably performed in response to an electronic signal. A stretching mechanism for elongating the viscoelastic test specimen is located proximate the light weight engagement wheel and further positioned so as to tangentially align the viscoelastic test specimen with the light weight engagement wheel. The light weight engagement wheel is initially in a stationary or stopped position. When activated, the light weight engagement wheel quickly ramps up to the desired speed and engages the stretching mechanism which initiates the high rate tensile test on the viscoelastic test specimen.

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Ridgecrest, CA, United States of America

R Allen Boyack