Modified Tinius Olsen Tensile Test Apparatus

A Tinius Olsen universal testing machine was modified in order to measure the adhesion strength of hard fouling organisms and epoxy studs (pseudobarnacles) to glass panels coated with test coatings. A rotating table was made that accommodates 8 x 4 inch glass panels. This enables adhesion measurements to be made in shear, tension, or at any angle.

The device can apply a force up to 100 pounds at displacement rates ranging from 0.01 to 19.9 inches per minute. The mode of detachment is monitored using a video camera, which is mounted underneath the glass panel. A data acquisition system allows simultaneous recording of force and displacement and overlays this data to the video source, which records the mode of failure of the various tests.