CIE 111: Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory
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CMT
program

Large capacity hydraulic machine used for a variety of tension and compression testing.  It automatically switches load ranges as listed below.

Operating Instructions

• Use the computer with MATS II software
• LOAD is in pounds
• DISPLACEMENTS are in inches
• STRAINS are in inch per inch

Do once to setup machine:

1. Turn machine on - switch on the lower left side of console.
2. Turn on hydraulic pump by pressing "start" on the small console.
3. Highlight MATS II Nuvision and press "enter".
4. Password is "ENGR".

Performing Tests:

1. Choose "Run Tests" and "Tensile Tests".
2. Highlight "CIE 111 Tensile Test" and press "enter".
3. Follow prompts.
4. If the screen shows that a test has just completed, highlight Repeat - Repeat same test and press "enter".
5. Enter a group identification and specimen diameter and press "esc" to continue.
6. Position the specimen in the top grip .
7. Carefully attach the extensometer.
   
8. Under the channel menu highlight zero channels and press "enter" .
9. Apply the bottom grip to the specimen by holding the handle tightly and pressing the "jog down" button quickly, applying a small load to the specimen (between 50 and 300 lbs.).
10. Select "start test’ to start test.
11. The "esc" key toggles the screen between the plot and numerical screen.
12. Try not to abort the test by hitting "spacebar" or "enter" while highlighting "abort test". HINT: Scroll the indicator across the top of the screen from "abort test" to "pause".
13. Take extensometer off specimen after peak load. It is not necessary stop the test, just take it off and pull apart (to show more easily in the numbers.
14. To end the test, highlight next command zone and press "enter". Repeat if necessary.

To save the results to disk:

1. Exit out of the testing procedure.
2. Select "Utilities" - "Export to ASCII text file,"  copying the data to a floppy disk
3. The columns of data are:

To plot the results:

1. Turn on the plotter. Press the "On/off" white key in the upper left part of the keypad to turn the light on.
2. Place a sheet of paper in the machine, leading edge lined up with the white line in the plotter.
3. Press the "paper load" key, just below the "on/off" key.
4. Under "plot", highlight "graph to plotter", and follow prompts.
5. When plot is finished, press the "paper load" key to get it out.

Extensometer (KSM 1116)

The extensometer clamps to the sample at a 2-in. gage length and accurately measures displacements.  Without it, measured displacements include frame flexure, grip movements and strains through the entire sample.

Handle it carefully - it can come completely apart into two pieces. 

Tips

• When editing form entries use:
• "PgUp"/"PgDn" to move between fields.
• arrow keys to select choices within a field.
• "F7" to delete an entry.
• During testing:
• Use "ESC" key to toggle between plot and text screens.
• To stop a test, switch to the text screen, and use "à " to select Next Command Zone, and press "enter". This may take several attempts. The Last Command Zone is the end of the test.