The Boeing Company

Stephen H Ward

Gregory Jonathon Smith

John Terry Monahan

Daniel N Giles

Ronald F Zabora

Apparatus for stabilizing a test specimen in a compression/tension testing machine. The apparatus supports the test piece along its lengthwise edge or edges to prevent unwanted Euler buckling, however in a manner so as not to prevent sublaminate buckling. In one embodiment the apparatus supports the test piece along both of its lengthwise edges while engaged between the grips of the test machine. In a second embodiment, the apparatus supports the test piece along only one of its lengthwise edges. In a third embodiment, the apparatus includes grip plates which are mounted to the test machine and which engage a portion of the test specimen while the remainder of the specimen is supported along its lengthwise edges by stabilizer plates.

Apparatus for supporting a test specimen for compression testing

A missile body and related method for producing a missile body comprising a plurality of coaxially disposed contiguous body sections wherein each body section is a structure having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to a respective cross section of the missile body, means for fixedly attaching the contiguous body sections together axially to form a hull, and an outer skin physically engaging the hull and constituting the outer skin of the missile body.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Stephen H Ward