Creep-Testing Machine Retrofit for Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Study

Abstract

The Nuclear and Energy Research Institute received two Creep-Testing Machine frame donated from Technological Institute of Aeronautics in nonfunctional mode. These apparatuses has arrived with structure, lever arm and tube furnace. However, they came with no strain gage and no temperature controller. In order to back the machinery to active mode, this work developed a Creep-Testing Machine modernization suite. In fact, this study developed a new PID controller hardware, based in an Arduino open platform. In addition, it used a LVDT developed in Brazil, by Technological Research Institute, to capturing the specimen strain. After the modernization suite implementation, it evaluated the creep strain-rate of the Ti6Al4V alloy at 873 K in 319 MPa. Moreover, compared the results of the same lot material tested in another two ones apparatuses. This open technology was able to maintain the specimen temperature in the set point, getting and saving the test results in a text file and it got results close to the most modern equipment.