Mechanical Test and Evaluation Facility

The Micromechanics & Materials Mechanics Test Facilities at Sandia, California, conduct experimental research and develop diagnostics to study the mechanical behavior of materials. Material systems of interest include metals, structural foams, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Our work for Department of Energy customers includes material characterization, fracture and failure mechanics, validation of massively parallel engineering mechanics computer codes, and mechanical testing of prototype hardware. The following research capabilities are available:

  • multi-axial testing
  • coupled thermal/mechanical testing from cryogenic to high temperature
  • in-situ mechanical testing in microscopes
  • high strain-rate testing
  • nanoindentation and thin film evaluation
  • high force testing
  • friction/wear Testing

Availability

These facilities are available to support applications that can benefit from their unique capabilities. For more information, contact the user liaison listed below.

User liaison

Brent Collins
Manager, Research & Development
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 969, MS 9042
Livermore, CA
bccolli@sandia.gov
(925) 294-3089