Patent ID: 7155982

Claim:
A testing apparatus for compression and shear testing of a test component that is to be tested, comprising: a pressure plate; a force introduction table that is movably arranged relative to said pressure plate to allow relative movement thereof in a compression direction, wherein said pressure plate and said force introduction table are adapted to receive the test component therebetween; a compression loading hydraulic cylinder that is connected to and acts on at least one of said force introduction table and said pressure plate, and that is adapted to cause the relative movement of said force introduction table relative to said pressure plate in said compression direction so as to apply a compression load to the test component in said compression direction; a first securing fixture that is adapted to be secured to the test component; a second securing fixture that is adapted to be secured to the test component spaced apart from said first securing fixture; a first actively drivable hydraulic cylinder that is supported relative to said pressure plate and that is arranged on a side of said pressure plate opposite said force introduction table; two first passive non-driven hydraulic cylinders; two tension rod assemblies that are respectively arranged in series with said two first passive non-driven hydraulic cylinders and that extend spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of said pressure plate to connect said first actively drivable hydraulic cylinder to said first securing fixture, wherein said first actively drivable hydraulic cylinder is adapted to generate and apply a first shear force through said tension rod assemblies and said first passive non-driven hydraulic cylinders and said first securing fixture to the test component in a first shear direction; and two compression strut arrangements that are supported relative to said pressure plate and are connected respectively to opposite sides of said second securing fixture, wherein said two compression strut arrangements respectively include two second passive non-driven hydraulic cylinders, and two second actively drivable hydraulic cylinders that are adapted to generate and apply a second shear force through said second passive non-driven hydraulic cylinders and said second securing fixture to the test component in a second shear direction opposite said first shear direction.