Strain Energy Frame Impact Machine (SEFIM)

This paper proposes an innovative strain energy frame impact machine (SEFIM) designed to explore direct tensile behavior of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) at high strain rates. The proposed system utilizes an energy frame to store a large amount of elastic strain energy as well as to suddenly generate high rate tensile impact pulse. The prototype of SEFIM demonstrated that the proposed energy frame could store enough elastic strain energy to fail a large-sized tensile specimen at high strain rates in direct tension. The tensile stress versus strain curve of HPFRCC under high rate impact was obtained by using the prototype with the aid of a high speed camera system and dynamic strain gauges attached on the surfaces of the transmitter bar.