Automatic Computerized 1200kN Tensile Testing Machine for Steel and Rebars Testing Instrument

The 1200kN Tensile Testing Machine provides a high test throughput with reliable results, improving efficiency in the laboratory. Thanks to its flexibility, this system is able to cover the following applications:

– Steel:

• Tensile tests onto steel round up to 40mm in diameter (up to 50mm with optional accessory).
• Tensile tests onto flat rebars up to 30mm in thickness and 90mm wide.
• Tensile tests onto wire strands 12.8mm and 15.2mm in diameter (with optional accessory).
• Tensile tests onto nuts and bolts according to EN 898-1 (with optional accessory).
• Node shear test onto electro-welded nets according to UNI EN 15630-2.

– Concrete, cement and masonry units (with second frame controlled by HPU200):

• Compression tests on concrete cubes and cylinders.
• Compression on masonry units and concrete blocks.
• Splitting on concrete products and bricks.
• Flexural tests onto concrete beams.
• Modulus of Elasticity on concrete cylinders (with dedicated software).
• Displacement-controlled tests on fibre-reinforced concrete.

Loading frame

The frame consists of a robust four-column structure with a lower fixed and an upper mobile crosshead. The upper crosshead can be positioned at three different heights, to test a wide range of specimen lengths. Crosshead positioning is done by employing piston stroke and column spacers, which come with machine. The crossbar is locked and unlocked onto grooves on two guiding columns via manageable half rings.

The frame is characterized by upper and lower tensile jaws which can be independently controlled with a handy keyboard, for easier sample positioning. Each grip is moved through a dedicated piston, which acts in the same direction of the grip itself, in order to minimize undesired lateral stresses. Synchronization between pairs of grips is ensured by connecting metallic plates, so that should one piston malfunction, symmetric gripping on the specimen would still be guaranteed.

Three sets of grips are included, for round specimens up to 40mm in diameter and flats up to 30mm in thickness. The grips have handles and can be frontally inserted into the tensile jaws; they are then locked in place using a knob, without need for complex manual operations.

A highly precise magneto-strictive displacement transducer reads piston travel, to have a measure of crosshead displacement, and a limit switch prevents the piston from stroke overrun and automatically shuts off the hydraulic system once triggered.

The machine also comes with a support plate which is used to position a load cell in case of periodical calibrations of the system.

Power and control console – HPU 200
The well-known and reliable control console HPU 200 features space-saving ergonomic design with small footprint and houses the hydraulic power unit, the electronic system and the PC to manage all the control functions. Automatically performs steel tensile testing, compression, flexural and splitting tests onto cement, concrete and other products.

PC and software Ultimate Tensile Strength and Datamanager enable remote control of the system, simplifying test set up and execution and allowing to automatically produce test reports. For further information please consult Software and Technical Specifications sections.

Safety features

• Pressure valve which automatically stops operations when oil pressure approaches operational limits.
• Maximum travel limit switch which automatically shuts down hydraulic system when piston reaches travel.
• Mechanical bumpers to avoid piston over-travel due to failure of long and high-strength specimens.
• Software automatically stops operation when maximum load is reached.
• Emergency stop button.
• Mechanical bumpers for energy absorption upon sample failure.