Sandwich Panel Flatwise Tensile Test 1 in. Blocks (ASTM C297)

Model No. WTF-FP (Stainless Steel)

A through-the-thickness (flatwise) tensile test of a sandwich panel is performed. The fixture, shown in Fig. 1, consists of upper and lower bonding block holders, each with a double yoke arrangement to permit full specimen alignment during tensile loading. The testing machine attachment ends are standard 1.25 in. diameter male studs with 0.50 in. diameter cross-pin holes. Optional mating adapters, if required to attach the fixture to a specific testing machine, can be provided at nominal cost.

The bonding blocks have 1 in. square ends, and are designed so that either end of each block can be used as the bonding surface, thus doubling the life of the blocks. Quick release pins are used to attach the bonding blocks to the yokes.

Fig. 2 shows an assembled sandwich panel specimen assembly ready for testing, and another specimen assembly already mounted in the test fixture.

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Fig. 1: Fixture with a 1 in. bonding block shown mounted in the lower holder.

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Fig. 2: Specimen mounted in bonding blocks and ready for testing with another specimen installed in fixture.

The standard Wyoming fixture shown utilizes bonding blocks 1 in. square in cross section, the minimum size recommended in ASTM Standard C297. The standard also permits the use of blocks 1 in. in diameter rather than 1 in. square, which the fixture can also accommodate. These can be provided upon request.

Since ASTM Standard C297 recommends that not less than five specimens be used for acceptance testing, five pairs of steel bonding blocks are supplied with each fixture, as shown in Fig. 1. Any number of additional blocks, or alternate materials such as aluminum, can be provided upon request.

An alternate fixture design, utilizing 2 in. cube bonding blocks, is also available from Wyoming Test Fixtures, as Model WTF-FT (see Section F-1 of this catalog). This fixture also conforms to ASTM Standard C297.

Various designs of bonding fixtures, designed to keep the specimen and bonding blocks in alignment while being bonded, are also available. One type of bonding fixture for ASTM D7291 is shown in Fig. 3. This particular fixture, intended for bonding circular specimens, will accommodate as many as twelve specimens. Other designs, for use with both square and circular specimens, are also available.

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Fig. 3: Example of specimen bonding fixtures for ASTM D7291.

Source of Additional Information:
1) ASTM Standard C297-04 (Reapproved 2010), "Tensile Strength of Flat Sandwich Constructions in Flatwise Plane," American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania (first issued in 1952).