Measurements Technology, Inc.

4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

MTI I-Joist
Universal Testing System

Included Equipment, Accessories, Features and Support Equipment:

⇒ 50,000 or 100,000 pounds capacity high-stiffness Floor Model test frame.
⇒ Loading and Reaction steel I-Beams sized to customer requirements.
⇒ MTI P4 Pentium IV Data-Acquisition and Analysis and Control System.
⇒ One 50,000 or 100,000 pounds force tensile/compression Universal Load Cell.
⇒ Two MTI AD-24 Automatic 24-bit Load/Strain/Deflection signal conditioner subsystems.
⇒ Load Frame Crosshead displacement measurement and reporting to a resolution of 0.00005 inches.
⇒ MTI Beam Deflection Sensor consisting of six displacement sensors.
⇒ 16 channels of ±10 VDC 16-bit analog input to support beam deflection sensors.
⇒ Four large radius of curvature beam contacting loading rollers, two with float mechanism per ASTM D-198
requirements, to support 4-point flexure testing.
⇒ Contacting rollers spacer units to support testing of beams of various depths (maximum depth is 24 inches).
⇒ Twelve (12) lateral beam deflection restraint assemblies.
⇒ Testing and Analysis software to support I-Joist Beam Tests per ASTM D-198 and D-5055.
⇒ All MTI data acquisition and control software, including source code, is furnished.

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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

The MTI I-Joist Testing System is an automated universal testing system capable of testing structural wood beams
in lengths up to 40-feet, or equal to the customer selected length of the lower support reaction beam if shorter. All
testing requirements as described in ASTM methods D-198 and D-5055 are met. Other tests are capable of being
performed with the system and the entire MTI general testing programs library will also be provided. The system
will be furnished with software to control all tests and display and process and archive data and test results.

CROSSHEAD CONTROLS
Control system: Closed loop servo control of crosshead rate.
Speed range: 0 - 5 inches per minute, 0.1% accuracy
Speed selection: variable potentiometer for manual control, 0 - 100% of full velocity.
Speed selection under computer control is infinitely variable.

SIGNAL CONDITIONING
One MTI AD-24 (24-bit) automatic digital signal conditioner will be furnished to condition and encode the
system load cell. A Second AD-24 is provided to condition and encode any additional bridge type sensors such
as strain extensometers. Sixteen channels of general purpose ±10 Volt sensor signal input are also provided, six
of which are dedicated to acquire deflection signals from the deflection sensors utilized to record true beam center
deflections.

The MTI AD-24:

The system load cells are automatically conditioned and encoded using the MTI AD-24 digital
conditioning system. This fully automatic, stand-alone sub-system acquires and encodes Force
data at 24-bit resolution. Resolution of 0.5 pounds is typical for a 50,000 Pound load cell.
Overall accuracy is 0.025% of full scale. Calibration and TARE offset nulling are performed
automatically. For setup and calibration the operator need only select the load cell from a
screen menu of load cells installed in a system. All calibration, zeroing and autorange functions
are performed automatically and without further operator intervention. A second AD-24 signal
conditioner shall be furnished to provide similar automatic conditioning of strain transducers,
deflection sensors or similar bridge type sensors.

Multi-Channel Analog I/O System:

A 16-channel, 16-bit, ±10 VDC analog input system shall be provided as part of the MTI I-Joist
system. The user shall have the capability to encode and record analog sensors as required under
interactive program control. Other full scale voltage input ranges, as low as ±10 millivolts, are also
available at no additional charge.

LOAD CELLS, UNIVERSAL TYPE, INTERCHANGEABLE

A 50,000 (or 100,000) pound capacity universal load cell shall be furnished along with mounting hardware for
ease of attachment within the system load train. Additional load cells in force capacities as low as 10 pounds are
available if required. Load cells can be added to the system at any time and need not be purchased at the time of
initial order.

MTI BEAM DEFLECTION SENSOR CONSISTING OF SIX DISPLACEMENT SENSORS.

ASTM D-198 method testing requires that the deflection of the center of the beam be measured relative to the
deflection of the beam under the upper applied forces in a 4-point bending test. We accomplish this by means of
a simple and accurate measuring technique which uses six cable-type deflection sensors. Two sensor cables
attach to each side of the beam at the center position along the neutral axis of the beam. Another pair similarly
attach below one of the loading rollers and the second pair is positioned beneath the applied force roller at the
opposite end of the beam. The testing program automatically acquires these six signals at 16-bit resolution and
subtracts the four individual roller deflection signals from the two larger center deflection signals, thus resulting
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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

in a high accuracy center displacement measurement. The present design is similar to that shown in the photo
below. (The two center deflection sensors are shown with their protective covering removed.)

LARGE RADIUS OF CURVATURE CONTACTING BLOCKS per ASTM D-198

The standard test method requires that loading and reaction forces be applied through large radius bearing blocks
which shall be free to rotate and two of which shall also have translating capability so as not to restrict the beam
during testing. A set of four such reaction blocks is provided, along with removable spacers to accommodate
testing of beams of various thickness. The photographs illustrate not only the loading blocks but also the beam
attachment mounts which allows them to be positioned at any point along the load and reaction beams.

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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

TWELVE (12) LATERAL BEAM DEFLECTION RESTRAING ASSEMBLIES

Deep beams tested over large spans also require lateral support to prevent out-of-plane deformation during the
test. A set of twelve such supports are provided with the system. The surfaces contacting the beams are delrin to
minimize friction, and the supports can also be placed at any position along the beam.

LOADING BEAM – SINGLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM MOUNT

The upper loading I-Beam is attached to the system load cell by means of a pivot assembly which allows it to
‘float’ and thus apply equal forces to each of the two load application contacting blocks. A photograph of the
pivot attachment is provided later in this document.

CROSSHEAD DISPLACEMENT
Crosshead position shall be automatically measured by coupled optical encoder. Resolution shall be 0.00005
inches over the full range of travel.

REAL-TIME GRAPHICS
Real-time X-Y plots shall be generated on the system monitor with hardcopy to the system line printer as
required. The operator shall have the option of plotting either Stress vs. Strain or Load vs. Deflection as desired.
Any selection of ranges can be plotted, and all graphic displays shall autorange to appropriate scales as a test
proceeds. An example of a typical testing screen is shown.

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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

Data Acquisition and Control System

The MTI I-JOIST Universal Testing System will include the MTI P4 computer control and data acquisition
system.

THE MTI P4 Computer:

The MTI P4 provides control signals to the drive motor servoamplifier which furnishes power to the loading
motor. Digital position feedback provided by an optical encoder coupled to the load frame, and velocity feedback
via a motor mounted tachometer combine to close the control loop. The control computer continuously monitors
these signals to insure that the load frame is responding as commanded.

The MTI P4 provides both control capability as well as data-acquisition and processing/analysis functions. The
CPU system architecture is based upon the 3.2-GHz (minimum) Pentium IV microprocessor with 512-Megabytes
(minimum) of system memory. A 80 Gigabyte (minimum) hard disk and a 3.5 inch floppy disk and
(52X24X52X) re-writeable CD-ROM Drive are provided for mass storage and data access. Windows 98 is the
operating system. A 17-inch 0.028 mm pitch Flat Panel display with 1024 by 768 dot resolution provides for high
resolution real-time graphics in easy-to-read format. A high-resolution Color Ink-Jet printer furnishes rapid
graphics image copy and high quality data listing output. The system includes sixteen channels of supplementary
analog data acquisition input. Load, strain and crosshead deflection measurements are provided for separately
and do not impact upon the analog input channels, leaving all free for required additional sensors.

System Data Acquisition and Control Software

The MTI I-JOIST Universal Testing System is both a functional, immediately operational system as well as a
full capability user development system including access to all software. All programs are stored on the system
hard disk as well as on floppy disks for backup purposes. All programs are written in 32-bit Delphi visual
programming language and the source code is furnished with the system for access by the user. This provides the
operator with a powerful and flexible development system when the need to make changes arises as certainly will
happen from time to time, and will not require unnecessary delay waiting for special code to be produced and
supplied, not to mention the added expense.

All standard MTI data acquisition and control programs shall be included as part of the
MTI I-JOIST testing system. These include, but are not limited to, programs to control and acquire and process
data from tests of the following types;
• I-Joist beam testing, • Average and T-Peel,
• OSB testing library, • Low Cycle Fatigue,
• Clear timber test library, • Inplane Shear
• Tensile, • Creep,
• Compression, • Stress Relaxation,
• 3- and 4-Point Flexure, • and a General Purpose GENERIC test
• Pin/Fastener Bearing,

All programs will include interactive operator setup. Physical testing parameters such as crosshead velocity, load
scales, plot display limits, specimen dimensions and data reductions options are all easily identified both prior to
and during the testing process. A typical program such as a tensile test will ➫
❶ load the specimen at a given crosshead speed,

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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

❷ perhaps change crosshead speed upon reaching some value of load or strain
or displacement,
❸ display stress-strain (or load-deflection) data on the monitor in real-time,
❹ automatically detect specimen failure and return the crosshead to the
starting position, calculate Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, principal
strains, ultimate stress and strain, yield stress and work (area under
the curve) ➫
all with the operator only answering a few simple questions and clicking the ‘RUN’ Icon.
The graphic plot of the test data can be copied to the system printer at the option of the operator. All processed test
data will be written to the printer, and the calculated results processed and statistically summarized for each set of
test specimens. Data files will be provided on command for inclusion into commercial data-base programs.

Lower I-Beam Option

The lower (reaction) I-beam can be furnished by MTI and shipped to the designated laboratory site but
substantial savings can be realized if this large beam is acquired locally. The beam is a standard I-beam section
and can be less massive than pictured in this document – MTI will assist in the selection of a suitable beam.
There are no machining requirement for this beam.

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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

MTI I-Joist Testing Systems

225 kN (50,000 Pounds) Force Capacity

and
450 kN (100,000 Pounds) Force Capacity
System Specifications

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 Measurements Technology, Inc.
4240 Loch Highland Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 770-587-2222 FAX: 770-592-3385

MTI I-Joist
225 kN or 450 kN Force (50,000 or 100,000 Pounds) Capacity Universal
Testing Systems
Automatic Force, Displacement and Strain Measurement: There are no knobs for Load and Strain zero and range adjustment on the
MTI I-Joist testing system; force and displacement and strain measurements are automatic. MTI Ad-24 automatic 24-bit Force and Strain
Signal Processors are supplied with each system. The AD-24's provide data accuracy and measurement resolution approaching one part in
one hundred thousand in a fully automatic mode of operation. The load frame crosshead displacement measurement is also automatic,
with resolution of 0. 5 microns (0.00005 inches) for all tests.

General Load Frame Features and Furnished Accessories:

Tension and compression testing can be performed in the lower test bay

Two precision rolled ball screws with preloaded multiple circuit ball nuts provide smooth, precise crosshead motion
under the full operating load range.

Chrome steel guide rods and linear bearings eliminate lateral surface translation and assure accurate crosshead alignment
throughout the full range of travel.

Heavy fan-fold bellows protect the lead screws and linear travel bearings from contamination and damage.

Crosshead surfaces are ground to precise flatness and parallel standards.

Each crosshead surface is fabricated with a mounting bolt circle that provides a means of attaching the system load cell
or universal joints or any of a large assortment of testing fixtures to any of the four surfaces.

The load cell can be mounted on the top or bottom crosshead surface to accommodate all testing conditions, including
elevated and cryogenic temperature testing requirements.

A universal tension/compression pancake load cell is provided with system calibration through the MTI AD-24
automatic 24-bit load cell signal conditioner. (A lesser force cell will be substituted upon request.)

A high resolution optical encoder coupled to the frame rotating components furnishes crosshead displacement
measurements for test programs, and also provides the control system with closed loop feedback to assure constant
crosshead travel rate under all load conditions.

Floating loading rollers, Lateral deflection restraints and beam center-point deflection measurement are included.

Custom size loading and reaction I-beams are provided.

Specifications:
FRAME DIMENSIONS: 2,465 mm high, 1,370 mm wide, 96 mm deep (97 x 54 x 38 inches).
TESTING REGION: Below the Moving Crosshead, in Tension or Compression.
TESTING REGION SIZE: 915 mm (36 inches) wide, 255 mm (10 inches) travel crosshead surface depth,
305 mm (12 inches) Fixed lower crosshead depth.
CROSSHEAD TRAVEL: 1,275 mm (50 inches) standard, extended travel optional.
TESTING SPEEDS: 0.0025 mm to 100 mm (0.0001 to 5 inches) per minute standard.
Consult factory for other speed requirements.
DISPLACEMENT RESOLUTION: 0.5 microns (0.00005 inches) at standard test speed range.
CONTROL: MTI C-DAS Pentium IV for computer control of testing. Manual control for
test setup.
WEIGHT: 1,300 kg (2,850 pounds).
UTILITY REQUIREMENT:115 volt, single phase 30 amp AC circuit for load frame and control system. A
Dedicated surge protected circuit is suggested. Notify factory for other voltage
requirements.

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