Structural Analysis & Experimental Strain/Stress Measurement Technology 

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) designs, fabricates, and tests pressure vessels, pressure housings, and subsea diving systems. Structural Engineering Department staff members have a combined total of more than 200 years of experience in experimental strain measurement and analysis of structures under various load conditions. SwRI employs the latest technology in instrumentation to provide clients with real-time data formatted for accurate analysis and verification of finite element analysis.

One-man submersible hull instrumented with strain gages for external pressure test to establish maximum depth capability

Capabilities

SwRI has the capability to perform in-house or field testing services. The staff has performed stress analysis test services for commercial and government clients in many areas including boilers, pressure vessels, submersibles, diving systems, composite housings, titanium instrument housings, and aircraft structures.

Acrylic pressure hull instrumented for external pressure test

Facilities

• Fabrication facilities
• Tension and compression test load frames
• Ocean simulation chambers
• Computer strain gage data logger systems

Instrument housing strain gaged prior to proof pressure test

Experience

• High-strength steel, aluminum, acrylic and composite hulls and housings tested for the U.S. Navy and numerous commercial submersible/diving system companies
• Aircraft and related structures testing
• Submarine hull and sail testing
• Steel pipe connectors, composite pipe burst testing
• Harsh environment applications
• Field services for tests on boilers, digester tanks, hulls, decompression chambers, hot taps, pipelines, and many other applications

Full-scale test setup of T-38 on SwRI load frame test facility

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