Patent ID: 7191664

Claim:
Apparatus for testing the mechanical properties of a material, which apparatus comprises a sample container adapted to be filled with a sample of the material and then engaged with a housing such that the sample container is, in use, fixedly mounted within the housing, the sample container having a first, open face via which a compressive load can be applied to the sample and a second face disposed orthogonally to the first, open face, at least a portion of said second face being resiliently displaceable, outwardly of the sample container, in response to deformation of the sample brought about by application of the load, wherein the second face, or the portion of the second face, that is resiliently displaceable in use is a panel that is releasably fixable relative to the remainder of the sample container, and the housing includes a resilient mechanism that engages the panel, displacement of the panel taking place against the action of the resilient mechanism.