Testing
The Tinius- Olsen tensile test machine measures the force exerted in two opposing directions. This Jig will fit into the machine and facilitate the pullrod to transmit the force to the pruning device as it cuts through test branch samples.
Jig
Pull Rod
Picture of the Tinius-Olsen Test machine with the short pull-rod installed.
One Thumb screw and one pin can be loosened and removed (see previous picture with arrows) to change out the cutting heads. This quick change function was because the scope of the project stayed away from changing the attachment point.
Wood collected last Fall to dry out over the winter in the heat cycle environment of an automobile. "W" indicates that the wood was cut off the tree at the time of collection. A "D" indicates that the limb was drying out already and collected off the ground.
A similar diameter selection of wet (Green) branches were collected three days prior to the bulk of the testing. The branches culled in the spring had started to bud out and were truly alive when cut.
The Main dial was zeroed after each movement and the recording dial was returned to touch the main dial at zero. As the test occurred, the recording dial stayed at the high "water mark" of force used to cut through the limb.
​
Photographs were taken for the sole purpose of recording data on the 0-6000 lb. scale. As shown below, a dry erase marker was drawn on the glass of the gauge for; diameter, Limb Condition as Wet/Dry, series test number. In later tests, a "P" for Pellenc and "W" for Wittig was added to the beginning of the note for system differentiation.
​
The main dial did not appear to zero in the photographs. However, The machine was still loaded to varying degrees at the point of complete cut. And was not manipulated to unload until after the pertinent data was collected. This is somewhat apparent in the right picture below.
Energy Test
The construction department allowed Matt Burvey to operate their automated Tinnius-Olsen machine. the travel speed was set to be 2 in. per minute. This was a safety value for the reason that the travel needed to be monitored and kept from an over-travel condition.
Test W1 sample data
Test W2 sample data
Test W3 sample data
