Non-contacting Strain Measurement System
ADMET’s PC-based VeX Video Extensometers are non-contacting distance measurement systems capable of measuring axial and transverse strains. Our VeX Extensometers enable strain measurements of high elongation materials, biomaterials in situ, wires, films and other thin specimens across a range of temperatures.
They are well suited for testing applications where a traditional clip-on extensometer would cause low stress readings due to high contact stresses localized at the extensometer knife edges, be too heavy for the test sample, or not be able to stay on the sample through break.
All ADMET VeX Extensometers operate by focusing a high-resolution video camera on a test specimen that has had high contrast marks (or targets) added to its surface. A PC-based video capture program analyzes the camera images and continuously reports the distance between the targets in real time. Distance readings are in absolute units or as a percentage change from the original distance between the high contrast gauge marks.
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- ADMET Video Extensometer
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- eXpert 2600 with Environmental Chamber, Video Extensometer and Track
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- Video extensometer set up with eXpert 2600
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- A rugged travel case is available for use on mutiple systems
VeX Video Extensometer Specifications
The strain measuring resolution of an ADMET VeX Video Extensometer is dependent on the camera resolution and it’s field of view (FOV). The field of view at any given time is determined by the focal length of the lens and the camera’s distance from the specimen. In the general case, ADMET VeX Video Extensometers provide 0.5 µm to 5 µm resolution which meets ASTM E83 class B-1 or ISO 9513 class 0.5 standards. With certain configurations, system resolution can achieve 0.1 µm to 0.5 µm levels which meets ISO 9513 class 0.2 standards.
ADMET offers a number of camera/lens options to meet your strain measurement requirements. The table above lists achievable resolutions for each combination and field of view.
ADMET VeX Video extensometers capture images that are resolved into pixels. In order to meet ASTM E83/ISO 9513 strain measuring standards, the pixelized images must be converted to length measurements. Before converting the digitized images into actual length measurements, the camera must be calibrated. Calibration is achieved by placing a patterned bar with known spacings between marks in the specimen grips. The pattern will then be viewed by the camera and it’s image processing software and a correlation between pixels and distance between calibration marks will be made. Calibration will need to be performed each time the camera is moved.
Prior to placing a test specimen in the grips for testing, high contrast marks or targets must be applied to specimen. Painted or stickered on marks are most commonly applied. Painted marks are preferred because they will deform with the specimen as it changes shape.
At the start of test, the spacing between marks will be recorded and used as the gage length. During test, the camera and image processing software will first find the center of each high contrast mark, measure the distance in pixels between marks then convert that to a length measurement based on the calibration. This processing sequence occurs for each length measurement in realtime.
Strain measurements from the video extensometer are fed into ADMET’s MTESTQuattro controller. MTESTQuattro records the strain readings and makes the data available for performing strain rate controlled tests which is required for tests such as ASTM E8.
- Enable strain measurements of high elongation materials, biomaterials in situ, wires, films and other thin specimens across a range of temperatures
- Axial and transverse strain measurement allows for calculation of Poisson’s Ratio and Modulus of Elasticity
- Strain measurement of specimens with irregular dimensions
- Selectable gauge lengths
- Test can be observed live and recorded from start to sample break
- Save images throughout the test; store images from test start, yield point, and sample break
- Post-test digital image correlation optional
- Data also available for use in common spreadsheet programs