Focus on: Batten testing

One of the key pieces of equipment in our state-of-art climate controlled timber testing laboratory is our Zwick Z050. This class 0.5 computer controlled 50kN capacity universal testing machine can be used for a variety of tests, but is used mainly for four-point bending tests of sawn timber to measure stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity, MoE) and strength (Modulus of Rupture, MoR) in accordance with the EN408 standard. We are able to measure global and local MoE simultaneously and have designed our own zero-friction lateral torsional buckling restraint (nicknamed the 'jock-strap') to minimise measurement errors due to instability and distortion.

You can see the machine in action in several videos we've made, incuding these two made for school children through the firrs project.





The machine is available for commercial testing. Contact Dan Ridley-Ellis or John Moore for details.