Membrane inflation experiment

Equibiaxial characterization is achieved with this device, where a piece of membrane is clamped in a rig and fluid pressure is applied on one side, perpendicular to the plane of the membrane. The inflation experiment produces a biaxial state of stress, which more closely represents physiological loading conditions as compared to conventional uniaxial tensile experiments. The device consists of a short cylinder (inner diameter: 50 mm) in which a fluid is pumped up to a prescribed pressure, a CCD camera for measuring the deformation of the inflated membrane, a pressure sensor which measures the applied pressure, and a peristaltic pump for building the pressure inside the cylinder. The control algorithm allows applying different loading profiles, e.g. constant flow, creep, cyclic pressure.

This set-up was applied for investigation of deformation and rupture behavior of fetal membranes (1)(2)(3) and soft elastomers, [23p], [35p], [36p], [37p].

04/23/13 | Manfred Maurer | ZfM | ETH