High Temperature Corrosion Fatigue - Cranfield University

The technical requirements included a 100kN load capacity machine, fitted with an environmental chamber to allow testing in a corrosive gas environment at temperatures up to 1000°C. The requirements also included strain measurement using an extensometer and access to video the fatigue sample during the test. The challenge was to fit the machine into a concrete bunker with limited head room.

The end caps for the chamber were designed to allow the main gas atmosphere in the centre of the chamber, a second shield gas annulus, access for extensometry and sample mounting, but be able to be sealed, and all to operate at high temperatures. Seals for the chamber were selected to be hard enough to withstand the temperatures, but soft enough to form a gas tight seal.