Test rings are used to measure force by compressing or stretching a spring-like metal ring with a screw and dial. They are used to calibrate force testing devices and determine material strengths. Invented after WWI by Whittmore and Petrenko, they provide precise data to prevent accidents in construction and design.
Scientists and engineers often use test rings as a way to measure force. The devices are made using a spring-like textured metal ring. Inside the ring is a screw attached to a dial with measurements on it and a plate that vibrates after being hit by something. The contraption in the center works to show the diameter of the ring after it has been compressed or stretched, which produces a reliable force measurement that can be used for other purposes.
To use a test ring, a person will apply a force to the ring in some way, usually by pushing it from both ends or pulling it apart, and then strike the plate to start the vibrations. At this point the screw is generally turned until it touches the plate and prevents it from vibrating. When the vibration stops, the number on the dial will show exactly how much force has been used on the ring. The metal used to make the rings is often quite thick, so any bending will often be very slight, which facilitates the need for precise measuring tools.
Test rings are often used to calibrate the amount of force used within various force testing devices. Once the calibration is set, other materials are inserted into the devices and it is possible to see if they can withstand the same force that was applied to the test ring. In this way, scientists can determine the exact strengths of various materials.
The test ring was invented primarily because scientists needed an accurate way to test the durability of various materials. Two scientists named Herbert Lucius Whittmore and Serge Nicolas Petrenko worked together to invent the devices after World War I and used them to study new materials that were being invented at the time. Engineers were often excited to try new space-age materials in their designs, but they were also skeptical.
When scientists create new materials for construction or use in products, there is sometimes a concern about material tolerances. Engineers designing machines or architects designing buildings may need to know exactly how much weight a material can support before using it in a particular part of the project. If this data is not accurate enough, there is the possibility of an expensive or dangerous accident. The test ring allows for a very precise and reliable definition of the force tolerance for almost any material, which can help avoid these kinds of accidents.
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