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Material and structural testing equipment manufacturer, Instron, released the AVE3 non-contacting video extensometer for strain measurement. The AVE3 measures both modulus and strain-to-failure for micron-level accuracy in tensile, compression and bend testing on a diverse range of materials, including plastics and composites.

ISO 9513- and ASTM E83-compliant, the AVE3 allows labs to test to any standard with one device, without needing to purchase and maintain multiple clip-on extensometers. The AVE3 can be configured to accommodate a range of gauge lengths and elongations while new kinematic mounting enables each lens to automatically snap into the factory-calibrated location.

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Instron’s AVE3 non-contacting video extensometer uses patent-pending Constant Density Air Tunnel (CDAT) technology to protect the testing area and specimens from ambient interference. Source: Instron

To guard against lab air disturbances emanating from HVAC systems and human operators’ movements, the AVE3 uses Instron’s patent-pending Constant Density Air Tunnel (CDAT) technology to create what the company describes as a “force field–like protective barrier” around the test space.

Instron’s dynamic cross-polarized lighting system accommodates for fluctuating lighting conditions in different lab spaces. The patented system dynamically adjusts its brightness to ensure all markings on the specimen are well illuminated for consistent results.

In accordance with ISO 6892-1 and ASTM E8 standards, the AVE3 extensometer enables closed-loop strain rate control. In a release, Casey Willis, Instron’s product manager for strain measurement devices, noted the particular challenges that the AVE3’s CDAT and illumination systems address. “Environmental variability has long been the Achilles’ heel of optical strain measurement,” Willis says. “Even minor shifts in lab temperature or lighting can introduce significant signal noise and undermine data integrity.”

The AVE3 ships with a new, simplified calibration plate that can clip directly onto the specimen — with the load string intact — making it easier for operators to confirm that their existing calibration is still valid. Full calibrations can be completed in less than a minute, reducing the time it takes to begin testing, according to the company.

Optional add-ons include AverEdge32, which simultaneously measures strain at 32 locations along the specimen gauge length, then averages them in real-time. Labs can also record testing images to be used with the optional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) software, which compares images of a tested specimen’s surface to generate full-field strain and displacement maps, synchronized with Bluehill Universal test data.