Below are will be the list of general procedures that are to be followed for testing of along with the equipment required for each testing standard we will attempt to do for testing the front bulkhead.

Please note that although each standard says to test 5 specimens each, we don’t exactly have 15 specimens for the frontbulkhead front bulkhead so we will have to do 3/4 instead of 5.

ASTM C393

Equipment Needed:

• Micrometers and/or callipers

• Deflectometer/Deflection gages (ONLY if the UTM can’t measure the displacement)

• Conditioning Chamber

• Environmental Testing Chamber

• 3-point bend fixture

• UTM

Procedures:

1. Condition the specimen in a chamber if the test environment is not the same as a conditioned environment.

2. Measure the length, width and thickness at three places in the specimen.

3. Place the specimeninto the test fixture as shown in the equipment and apparatus section.

4. Attach the deflection transducer (if we choose to use one).

5. Apply a compressive force to the specimen until failure or until a deflection equal to the thickness is reached.

ASTM D3039

Equipment Needed:

• 3 Force Indicator

• Grips

• Strain Indicating Device

• Extensometer

• Strain Gauge

• Tabs( We should probably fabricate our own tabs)

• UTM

Procedures: 

1. Measure the specimen in 3 places and report average thickness and width as well as average area. 

2. Place the specimen into the grips of the testing machine

3. Apply the force until failure occurs

ASTM D3410

Equipment Required:

• Compression fixture

• Strain-indicating device

• Special alignment jig

• Bonded Resistance Strain Gauges

• Emery cloth

• I believe UTM

• Conditioning chamber

• Environmental test chamber

• Extensometer

 Procedures:

• Condition specimens

• Apply strain gages/extensometers to both faces of the specimen(if we choose to).

• Monitor test temperature using thermocouples (if we choose to).

• If needed, move the testing machine crosshead to open the distance between the 2 housing blocks so both the upper and lower wedge rip assemblies may be accessed. 

• Close the upper grips manually to check the specimen's vertical displacement. Do it with the lower grips as well. The upper grips should be in full contact with the wedge when closed. Repeat if we need to. 

• Attach strain transducers if they will be used. Then, attach the strain recording instrumentation to the strain gages or other transducers on the specimen. Then, remove any remaining preload and zero the transducer(s).

• Apply the force to the fixture at the specified rate until failure while recording data.

...