April 6, 2001

This week, Tri-State University freshmen in Dr. William Meyer’s Introduction to Engineering class met in the one of the University’s mechanical engineering laboratories in Fawick's Hall of Engineering for some more hands-on engineering experience. The purpose was to expand their knowledge of the engineering profession by performing standard tensile tests on cast steel and aluminum samples.

To perform the tests, Meyers’ students used the University’s 200,000-pound Tensile Test Machine and found that the cast steel sample broke without deformation at approximately 18,000 pounds of force, and that the aluminum sample first deformed elastically, then plastically, and then broke at about 16,000 pounds of force.

"These are fundamental mechanical property tests" said Meyers. "Engineers have to take into account the strength of the metals they are using before they design anything—these tests provide some of that information." Meyers also noted that very few schools or industries have access to a 200,000-pound Tensile Test machine.

"Anymore, these machines are incredibly expensive," he said. "We may be the only institution, educational or otherwise, in this part of Indiana to own one."

Gathering of Ultimate Tensile Testers—TSU engineering freshmen gather around the University’s 200,000-pound Tensile Test Machine. They are (front row, left to right): Josh Kime of Elkhart, IN, and Sara McWilliams of Auburn, IN; (back row, left to right) Elizabeth Beard of Angola, IN; Chris Vergon of Buchanan, MI; Kurt Easton of Merrillville, IN; Thomas Griffin of Monroe Falls, OH; and Kyle Mavis of Kendallville, IN.

---

| Welcome |  | Administration |  | Academics |  | Admission & Financial Aid |  | Alumni |  | Athletics |  | Faculty | | News & Information |  | Student Life |  | Angola Evening Program |  | TSU Fort Wayne |  | TSU South Bend |  | TSU Home |