Structural tests with solutions for measuring interfacial forces

Structural testing is essential in modern engineering because it provides critical data for improving designs, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and proactively preventing failures. Structural tests guarantee the safety, reliability, and quality of everything from raw materials to the tallest structures that shape our skylines. Force measurement solutions are at the heart of this discipline, and Interface's advanced sensor technologies are tools widely used across many industries.

Interface's measurement devices and instruments are essential for structural testing. They deliver highly accurate, real-time force and load measurements, enabling engineers to make informed, data-driven decisions throughout the product lifecycle. Interface's products enable companies to validate engineering models, identify potential vulnerabilities, and ensure their designs not only meet but exceed stringent safety standards.

Common types of structural testing using interface products

Interface's product range supports a variety of testing and measurement methods , each offering unique insights into the performance of a material or structure. These types of structural testing illustrate the applications of Interface measurement products, including load cells, torque transducers, bending and shear beams, miniature and jumbo load cells, fatigue-tested load cells, and multi-axis sensors.

• tensile test
• Pressure test
• Torque test
• Load capacity test
• bending test
• fatigue testing
• Impact test
• Shear test

Use cases for structural testing

Rocket structural testing

Rockets and spacecraft operate under the most extreme conditions. Their structures, including fuselage, fuel tanks, and payload components , must withstand enormous forces during launch and flight. Interface load cells are crucial for simulating these conditions on the ground.

In static fire tests or complete structural tests of a rocket stage, Interface's high-performance load cells are mounted on hydraulic cylinders on test stands. These sensors precisely measure the forces acting on the structure, simulating the enormous thrust, bending moments, and pressure loads the rocket will experience. For example, in tests of the core stage of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), load cells were used to apply millions of pounds of force to the propellant tanks to ensure they could withstand launch loads. Learn more about Interface's rocket launch application for NASA here.

Rocket engineers sometimes intentionally push rocket components to their limits or to the point of failure. By precisely measuring forces with interface load cells during deformation and eventual failure of the structure, engineers collect valuable data that helps them improve their models and design safer, lighter, and more efficient components.

Load testing of infrastructures

The integrity of civil infrastructure, including bridges, dams, and buildings, is critical to public safety. Structural testing with Interface products provides the data needed for long-term condition monitoring and assessment. Interface load cells and sensors can be permanently installed in large structures. They continuously provide real-time data on stresses, vibrations, and deformations caused by environmental factors such as wind, temperature changes, or seismic activity. This continuous monitoring allows engineers to detect subtle changes that may indicate structural deterioration, allowing proactive maintenance measures to be implemented and potential failures to be prevented.

When a new bridge is being built or an old bridge needs to be re-evaluated, engineers conduct load tests. Interface load cells are installed beneath the bridge's support piers or at critical points on the superstructure to measure the deformations and stresses caused by a known weight (e.g., heavy trucks). The data confirms that the bridge is performing as designed and can safely support its designed traffic loads.

Industry diversity in structural audits

Interface's solutions for structural testing aren't limited to a single industry. A selection of load cells in various models, capacities, and designs offers versatility, which is essential in a wide range of applications.

Structural testing in the aerospace industry

In this high-risk sector, structural integrity is paramount in the aerospace industry . Interface load cells are used to assess the structural integrity of aircraft components, such as wings and fuselages, under various loads. For example, in fatigue testing, a multi-axis load cell can accurately simulate the cyclic loads an aircraft wing experiences during flight. This helps engineers predict the aircraft's service life and prevent potential in-flight failures. The precise data from an Interface load cell enables engineers to optimize designs and minimize weight without compromising safety.

Structural tests in the automotive industry

Vehicle safety is a central concern for consumers and regulatory authorities in the automotive industry . Interface force sensors are an essential component of crash tests, where impact forces and the deformation of the vehicle frame and safety devices are measured. This data is crucial for validating crash safety, optimizing energy absorption zones, and complying with safety regulations, such as those of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Structural engineering tests

The stability of our bridges, dams, and buildings is fundamental to the public good. Interface load cells are used to assess the load-bearing capacity of structural components such as concrete beams, steel girders, and foundations. They can also be permanently installed in large structures to continuously monitor their condition. These sensors provide real-time data on loads, vibrations, and deformations caused by environmental factors such as wind or seismic activity, enabling early problem detection and proactive maintenance. Read why structural engineers prefer Interface products.

Structural tests in the energy sector

The renewable energy sector , particularly wind power, relies on extremely robust structures. Interface load cells are crucial for assessing the structural strength of wind turbine towers under varying wind conditions to ensure they can withstand extreme weather and operational loads. Similarly, these sensors are used in the oil and gas industry for tensile testing of drilling platforms and pipelines to prevent failures in high-pressure environments.

Structural testing in the shipping industry

From cargo ships to submarines, structures in the shipping industry are subjected to enormous forces from water and waves. Interface solutions are used to measure the forces exerted on hulls, rigging, and anchoring systems during bending and impact tests, ensuring that every component can withstand the harsh conditions of the marine environment.

These applications underscore the critical importance of precise force measurements for the safety and reliability of our most important structures, from spacecraft to everyday support systems.

Structural testing using sensor technologies is critical because it provides the empirical data needed to ensure the safety, reliability, and quality of engineered products and structures. This process goes beyond theoretical models by verifying a design's ability to withstand the forces and loads encountered in real-world applications. Load cells allow engineers to validate their designs, prevent potential failures, and ensure compliance with stringent industry standards.