Central Control System for Characterizing Mechanical Behaviour of Materials

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The Department of Civil Engineering and Building Engineering at the Université de Sherbrooke has an exceptional multiscale equipment platform that allows its researchers to conduct innovative research from the nanoscale (nanomaterials, nanoengineering) to the macroscale (concrete plant, in situ tests, etc.). The projects carried out by the researchers associated with this proposal involve a variety of materials (ordinary, selfconsolidating or ultrahigh performance concretes, rocks and aggregates, composite and metallic materials). Scientific and technological breakthroughs in these areas require characterization tests of the mechanical properties and behaviour of materials under compressive, tensile and bending stresses. Unfortunately, our necessary tensile and compression test machines no longer allow materials to be properly characterized. While the structure of the load frames remains in excellent condition, their control system is either archaic or out of order. This situation has put us in a vulnerable position, greatly reducing our ability to adequately and effectively conduct our research programs. Very important strategic projects are currently compromised, as well as Ph.D. and master's projects. Furthermore, due to this situation we have had no choice but to decline several research contracts with industry. In addition, graduate students cannot carry out their experimental program and must rely on data from the literature, which are not always reliable. The equipment urgently needed and essential to our work is a central controller capable of operating our three specialized presses. This one device would replace three very outdated and dysfunctional individual controllers that currently render two of these presses non-operational and also put the third at risk. This will ensure having a single, up-to-date, high-performance control system that will secure our research programs and allow the training of highly qualified personnel now and for several years to come.