Bowen Lab Capabilities

Structural Static and Dynamic Testing

Hydraulic Equipment

  • 180 gpm (680 lt/min.) MTS pump and cooler system
  • 2 x 330 kip (1500 kN) dynamic actuators (MTS)
  • 4 x 220 kip (1000 kN) dynamic actuators (MTS)
  • 5 x 100 kip (450 kN) static actuators (Shorewestern)
  • 5 x 1000 kip (4500 kN) cyclic actuators

Data Acquisition Equipment

  • Several National Instrument based systems with 256 channels for strain, temperature, displacement, force, or other voltage based sensors
  • Campbell Scientific systems

Material Testing

Several calibrated universal testing machines for steel / metal and concrete / composite testing of materials and components / elements

  • 600 kip (2700 kN), 300 kip (1350 kN), 100 kip (450 kN) capacities
  • Concrete cylinder testing machine, fracture toughness testing

High strain rate material testing

  • Split-Hopkinson bars / Kolsky bars courtesy of AAE

Projectile / missile impact testing

  • Courtesy of AAE

Quality Program

  • Detailed Quality Procedures and Manual
  • Fully calibrated equipment, machines, sensors, and data acqusition
  • Commercial Grade Dedication of Testing Programs
  • Testing program audited by the US NRC

Fire Testing

  • Radiant heating and control equipment – up to 1200 C
  • Propane gas based external fire simulators