Influence of the testing machine on the flexural failure of panels

Abstract

The pin-ended length of a panel tested fiat-elided in a compression testing machine is influenced by the flexibility of the machine. A system of elastic constants is defined to describe this influence (section 2) and equations for the critical load developed (section 3). These constants are detmmined by stiffness measurements made on the testing machine (section 4) and by calculation of the platten deformation at the area of contact with the panel (section 5). Finally, the degree of fixation achieved in the testing of typical panels is calculated and the results given in graphical form (section 6).