Biomaterials Testing Laboratory | Michigan State University

This laboratory is used for experiments which study the properties of biological materials. Below is a list of the equipment used in this lab.

1. Servo-Hydraulic Testing Machine

Used to examine the physical strength of biological materials.
Can produce computer-controlled displacements or forces of almost any desired shape and duration.
Capable of producing 50ms sinewave load and position-controlled impacts of 13.0 kN.
Data can be analyzed to produce force-time and force-displacement curves, as well as calculate stiffness, Young's modulus and yield strength

Provides torque moment or rotational movement to an object using load cell of either 25 inch/lbs or 200 inch/lbs
Uses optical rotary encoder to measure rotary motions.
Used to evaluate surgical equipment and procedures, as well as bone repair methods and materials.
Used to determine failure torque, energy and stiffness of these materials

Can produce an impact of up to 35 mph to simulate a car crash or other high speed impact injury.
Uses high-pressure nitrogen to fire a piston, accelerating an impact mass toward the target object.
Initial velocity of the impact mass is measured with an optically triggered speed trap. The impact forces are measured with an inertially compensated load cell.
Used to test the response of tissues and bones to high-speed impacts.
Results are used to design cars, helmets and other safety equipment.

Custom designed to test behavior of specimens under loads while allowing rotation.
Used in conjunction with the XY table to simulate tensile or compressive stresses
Used in research to analyze the mechanical behavior of knee joints when forces similar to those experienced in nature are applied.

Allows researcher to exert tensile or compressive forces in Z-direction while allowing free movement in the X and Y directions.
Can be mounted on the Instron testing machine, where data can be captured and the XY displacement data from the table can be synchronized.
Table's position can be measured to 1/1000 of a millimeter and can be read at 10,000 samples per second.
Y Axis can be fixed in order to measure any loads in Y direction.

Allows researcher to exert tensile or compressive forces in Z-direction while allowing free movement in the X and Y directions.
Can be mounted on the Instron testing machine, where data can be captured and the XY displacement data from the table can be synchronized.
Table's position can be measured to 1/1000 of a millimeter and can be read at 10,000 samples per second.
Smaller, designed for lighter loads than the stainless steel XY Table

Available with a resolution of 0.02 degrees, sampled at up to 10,000 samples per second.
Data from encoders, XY Table and Instron can be synchronized.
Used to measure angular motions
Experiment shown on the right uses two encoders to calculate the bending moment at the joint.