A test fixture, for load testing a material coupon, the test fixture comprising: a housing having a first interior portion and a second interior portion; a first grip configured to clamp onto an upper surface and a lower surface of the material coupon at a first end portion of the material coupon, the first grip further being configured to mate against the first interior portion of the housing at a first upper slope surface and a first lower slope surface; a second grip configured to clamp onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon at a second end portion of the material coupon, the second grip further being configured to mate against the second interior portion of the housing at a second upper slope surface and a second lower slope surface; wherein the first grip has an upper grip member and a lower grip member, the second grip has an upper grip member and a lower grip member and the upper grip member and lower grip member of first grip, as well as upper grip member and lower grip member of second grip self adjust by flexing vertically while moving horizontally until clamping onto material coupon and bearing against housing at the slope surfaces (145a-145d); wherein the first upper slope surface, the first lower slope surface, the second upper slope surface, and the second slope surface each have a slope angle that causes the first grip and the second grip to contact the material coupon at a length location that is dependent upon a thickness of the material coupon; wherein said flexing maintains a desired testing ratio of the material coupon, the testing ratio being the ratio of a length of the material coupon between the first grip and the second grip, and the thickness of the material coupon; and wherein the first grip is configured to clamp onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon at the first end portion of the material coupon with a clamping force, the clamping force being adjustable by a first grip adjustment knob, wherein the first grip adjustment knob is configured to adjust a first compression spring that provides a spring force against a body portion of the first grip; wherein the second grip is configured to clamp onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon at the second end portion of the material coupon with a clamping force, the clamping force being adjustable by a second grip adjustment knob, wherein the second grip adjustment knob is configured to adjust a second compression spring that provides a spring force against a body portion of the second grip; and an upper input jaw and a lower input jaw configured to clamp onto the material coupon near a center of the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon. a housing having a first interior portion and a second interior portion; a first grip configured to clamp onto an upper surface and a lower surface of the material coupon at a first end portion of the material coupon, the first grip further being configured to mate against the first interior portion of the housing at a first upper slope surface and a first lower slope surface; a second grip configured to clamp onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon at a second end portion of the material coupon, the second grip further being configured to mate against the second interior portion of the housing at a second upper slope surface and a second lower slope surface; wherein the first grip has an upper grip member and a lower grip member, the second grip has an upper grip member and a lower grip member and the upper grip member and lower grip member of first grip, as well as upper grip member and lower grip member of second grip self adjust by flexing vertically while moving horizontally until clamping onto material coupon and bearing against housing at the slope surfaces (145a-145d); wherein the first upper slope surface, the first lower slope surface, the second upper slope surface, and the second slope surface each have a slope angle that causes the first grip and the second grip to contact the material coupon at a length location that is dependent upon a thickness of the material coupon; wherein said flexing maintains a desired testing ratio of the material coupon, the testing ratio being the ratio of a length of the material coupon between the first grip and the second grip, and the thickness of the material coupon; and wherein the first grip is configured to clamp onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon at the first end portion of the material coupon with a clamping force, the clamping force being adjustable by a first grip adjustment knob, wherein the first grip adjustment knob is configured to adjust a first compression spring that provides a spring force against a body portion of the first grip; wherein the second grip is configured to clamp onto the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon at the second end portion of the material coupon with a clamping force, the clamping force being adjustable by a second grip adjustment knob, wherein the second grip adjustment knob is configured to adjust a second compression spring that provides a spring force against a body portion of the second grip; and an upper input jaw and a lower input jaw configured to clamp onto the material coupon near a center of the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon.