BACKGROUND
Although impact testing is extensively used in the research, development, and quality control of mechanical structures, slide impactors delivering shear impact on an external surface (i.e., “slide impact”) has not yet been developed. The lack of a commercially available device to evaluate realistic slide impacts means a narrow view of mechanical performance in various objects. This creates a dearth of knowledge in not only quality control of vehicles, utensils, and coatings, but also in several fields of research.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at OSU have developed an invention which provides a small footprint collider for generating controlled and reproducible slide impacts between surfaces. This functions to realistically emulate damage of coatings or paints in collisions; slide impacts may also be used for quality control and testing of surfaces, coatings, and paints. Additionally, this invention can be used to investigate phenomena related to surface mechanics and mechanochemistry, such as wear, friction, lubrication, triboelectricity, mechanicochemical reactions and plasmas. This invention provides a novel way of studying shear impact on surfaces and smear generations in many different collision conditions, providing a powerful tool for several fields of research and manufacturing.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
- Vehicle and utensil quality control
- Surface mechanics and mechanochemistry research
- Forensic investigations
MAIN ADVANTAGES
- Developed for both smear and slide-impact generation
- Modifiable for specific parameters
- Easily repairable
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT