Mechanical testing of ultralightweight structures

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This proposal is for computerised equipment to control a hydraulic mechanical testing machine. This machine is used to run compression, tension and bending experiments, as well as long-duration experiments to probe the fatigue endurance of materials and structures. The focus in this laboratory is performing experiments on ultralightweight materials and structures which can be used as components in aircraft. Reducing weight is increasingly important to aircraft design because lighter aircraft require less fuel and smaller engines, reducing both cost and environmental impacts. Consequently it would be of great benefit to Canada to be a leader in the field of lightweight aircraft design, both because of the environmental benefits and because of the international competitive advantage it would bring to our aerospace industry.