Computer controlled long-term cyclic fatigue testing of pressure vessels

Described is a computer-controlled hydrostatic
test facility capable of high pressure, cyclic
fatigue testing. Harbor Branch Foundation located
in Ft. Pierce, Florida, has recently completed
construction of their Deep Ocean Simulation
Facility for the study of hydrodynamically loaded
vessels. The facility is equipped with four
pressure test chambers with capabilities to 10,000
fsw. The chambers are interfaced with microprocessors
and signal conditioning instrumentation,
enabling programmable pressure cycling and
data acquisition for strain, temperature,
volumetric displacement or other parameters of
interest. Included is sufficient information in
the form of hydraulic and electronic schematics to
serve as a guide for the development of an
automated, cyclic pressure test system. The test
facility, in combination with Harbor Branch
Foundation's mainframe computer and expertise in
ocean engineering provides a powerful facility for
the design and testing of pressure vessels,
available to the oceanographic community

Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 501

This manuscript is an author version with the final
publication available and may be cited as: Brenn, C. B., & Clark, A. M. (1986). Computer controlled
long-term cyclic fatigue testing of pressure vessels. In Proceedings of Marine Data Systems
International Symposium, April 30 - May 2, 1986, New Orleans, Louisiana (pp. 355-363). NSTL, Miss:
Marine Technology Society.