Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-01
TESTING Machine.

Inc largest tIsicIiHS III Lie WoIiu ~
testing the strength Of structural
materials used In great buildings and
engineering works Is about to be
erected by the United States Govern
ment at the Geological Survey Testing
Station on the old Arsenal grounds in
Lawrenceville. 1t will weigh more
than 200 tons and will tower in the air
to an extreme height of about 50 feet
above the foundations. 1t will exert a
maximum pressure of 100000 pounds.
which is equivalent to placing a LOAD Of
5000 tons upon the beam or column 10
he tested.
This great machine will be housed in
a structure 1000 feet in height and OF
unusual strength to which the testing
apparatus will be secured by great rod.
in order to brace it against any sudden
pressure while the columns are under
going the strain upon them. Elevators
will run to the top of the machine SO
| that the experts may examine the
columns being tested from any point
Of view to detect the first signs of
weakening
When the Quebec Bridge collapsed
with great loss of life general CONNECT
was made by engineers and others OF
the lack of knowledge concerning the
strength of great columns used in such
a structure, and a plea was made mat
a testing machine of sufficient strength
be. erected, so that the engineers may
have accurate data as to the amouns>of
load such a bridge should carry. With
the construction of this machine ii Will
he nossible to test steel columns one
half the size of the largest chords now
used in any bridge. This viii be de-
cided gain to the engineering world,
which has bean :,nSlDusly awaiting the
construction Of su: \ macilln"
| However, this IS not The primary
purpose of this powerful testing dp-
i paratus. Joseph A. Holmes, expert III
i charge Of the Technologic Branch.
limited States Geological Survey, under
whose general direction t'lra investi ga
Itjons are to be conducted, said the other
day in Washington,
Il This machine was acquired Cor the
purpose of testing the strength OF large
blocks of stone, columns OF concrete
land brick used in the building anu
!, CONSTRUCTION work of the Government
The Federal Government is the largest
builder i'm the world. and it is essential
, if the money is to be expended wisely
that there be a complete knowledge OF
the strength of the materials used The
building and engineering constructor
, work will require during the present
and the next few years more than $'o,-
ooO 600 ner annum. 1t embraces thu
most important and far-reachins
engineering work undertaken by any
, Government at any time and a program
of public buildings costing from ILL.,
, OOO. 900 to $15,OO0.00 yearly.
"The testing in this machine of tins
stone. concrete and brick columns VII
determine the relative SAFETY adap'"'
lhil;tv and durability of these materials
and how the quantity of each materia
fused may be safely diminished tnu'
reducing the cost of the constructor
work.
IN the past it has been necessary t
determine the =. strength OF ars
columns on the assumption Oh ti''
! values obtained from testing sinaiei
columns In the case OF stone, til'
small pieces tested were without th'
usual ouarried effects and seams whlci
. are to be found in large pieces OF SION"
: and such tests as have been maze snow
that the strength of the stone a."
lcreases as the size of the stone III
lcreases. In the erection of large pulld
: ings the strength Of these columns pe
comes very important matter. and }
. is absolutely necessary that there %
!. accurate data as TO the strength whlci
nav be expected from these materia'
when used in larger masses
There is no machine in the wori-
that could test chord of the size o
that which failed in the Quebec prlds'
1T the present time, or of the size I"
he recently completed Blackwell lsianS
bridge. A machine of the capacEN
which we are building in Plttsburi
would test pieces Of one-half the fui
size of these large chords to within tn
elastic limit of the material. and wou':
rive the necessary information when Is
so desired by the engineer