ToDo: Bulge test machine

So another aspect of my thesis will include the use of something called a "bulge test." Essentially, a test specimen is clamped down and then pressure is applied evenly across some area. The ideal way to do it would be to use air pressure. Is that actually the ideal way? Let's just say that it is. Hydraulic pressure is another way.

Figure 1 - Bulge test 

(http://www.intechopen.com/source/html/38394/media/image2.png)

A test fixture obviously needs to be designed and constructed so we can actually run through the tests. Will air be enough? Is some sort of liquid more necessary? If air is to be used, I have some SolidWorks parts already made up, but the generation of the pressure needed is still a problem. 

How much pressure is actually needed? 

ToDo:

• Figure out how much pressure we need to generate
• Come up with the necessary drawings
• Figure out how to best protect the camera

Boom. I have a bunch of work ahead of me. In addition to figuring out all of the design needs and constraints, I need to figure out what we have in the lab already and what we need to purchase. Reading about how the testing helps determine forming limit curves will help as well. Even though I'm only taking one other class right now, my plate may be considered full with a bunch of work left to do and a bunch of information left to absorb.