Supporting Structure and Equipment

Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL)

The design of the support system for wind load should consist of a rigid frame airbox, sealed on the bottom and four sides. A fan or blower is required, capable of controlling and maintaining the required test pressure, and pressure measuring devices. The deflection can be measured using several differential displacement transducers and traced and recorded coincidentally with the increasing load. Purlin and end wall positions can be changed to test for multiple spans of different dimensions.

The use of airbags rather than air pressure is not endorsed by the MRM COP

Point Load

For point load testing, a means of applying and measuring a continuously increasing load is positioned above the part of the material being tested.