Method for remote application of variable load and/or displacement to specimens, components, or systems

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG.
1, a typical process according to this invention is carried out using a displaceable container 101 (expandable, contractible, or both expandable and contractible) with an internal solid material force/displacement exerting member 105 which is heated using a heating element (137).
Inner volume 104 can be vacuum, thermal insulation, or both.
The end caps (102, 103) are welded or otherwise attached to ensure complete sealing of the container.
The container (101, plus 102, plus 103) form a sealed volume.
Insulated electric current conducting wires 106 provide current to electrical resistance wire 132 which heats when current flows.
An example resistance material (132) is Nichrome.
Electrical insulation 131 keeps the electrical resistance wire electrically isolated.
The use of high temperature electrical insulators such as refractory materials are preferred for this application.
An example of electrical insulation (131) material is alumina.
For high deflection applications, it is preferable to match the coefficient of the thermal expansion (CTE) of the electrical insulator (131) with the CTE of the member 105 as closely as possible.
When the resistance wire (132) heats, the heat is transferred to the insulator (131) which heats and transfers heat to the force/displacement exerting member (105) which heats and thermally expands.
The member exerts force, displacement, or both on the container (101) which may be attached to a specimen, component, or system.
The container (101) may be designed with sufficient stiffness so that the end caps (102, 103) are in rigid contact with the force/displacement exerting member.
This is accomplished by welding the end caps in position with the load train pre-tensioned.
The container (101) may be designed so that it is expandable only.
This may be accomplished by expanding the bellows so that it undergoes plastic deformation and then welding the end caps (102, 103) onto the bellows so that they are in rigid contact with the force/displacement exerting member