Development of a portable shear test fixture for low modulus porous (foam) materials

The shear properties of brittle and highly porous carbon (graphitic) foam cannot be measured reliably with most standard test methods, such as single rail, double rail, Iosipescu shear, etc. A new testing device has been developed to accurately measure the shear stiffness and strength of carbon foam or other porous materials. Specimens of cylindrical cross section are used to reduce the high stress concentration that normally occurs in the vicinity of the grip section. Since strain gages could not be installed on the specimen surface (due to porosity), the shear strain is determined from the specimen end rotation. A high resolution in the rotational measurement is achieved by using a stepper motor with multiple gear reduction. In view of testing low modulus material, the load cell of the fixture was mounted onto an axial roller to relieve the axial constraint while twisting the specimens. The accuracy of the measurement and calibration of the test fixture has been demonstrated by measuring the shear modulus of two plastic (polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and urethane).