DYNAMIC MATERIAL TESTING APPARATUS HAVING INDEPENDENT CONTROL OVER SPECIMEN DEFORMATION AND STRAIN RATE, AND A METHOD FOR USE THEREIN

摘要

Apparatus, and an accompanying method for use therein for a dynamic material testing system (500), and particularly forone that tests a specimen (570) by compressively deforming its work zone and that has independent control over specimen defor-mation (strain) and strain rate. The apparatus can also simultaneously direct resistance heat or conductively cool the specimenunder controlled conditions, in order to establish isothermal planes at a desired substantially uniform temperature throughout thespecimen work zone before, during and after each compressive deformation thereof.