Environmental Chamber for MTS Criterion C45 System

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requires an environmental chamber designed for use with their existing MTS Criterion C45 load frames. The chamber must be capable of operating within a temperature range of -70°C to +250°C and interface with the current MTS Criterion C45 system. It needs to accommodate specimen grips and extensometers, and possess water-cooling capacity for heat transfer during environmental simulation testing. The specified external dimensions are 533 x 889 x 864 mm (21 x 35 x 34 in). This environmental chamber is essential for the NIST Engineering Laboratory's Infrastructure Materials Group to conduct critical research on the mechanical properties of materials used in building, infrastructure, and energy applications. The existing chamber is beyond economical repair, and a replacement is necessary to restore the lab's capability for mechanical testing under controlled thermal conditions. NIST intends to procure this equipment as a sole source purchase from MTS Systems Corporation, as their equipment is proprietary and resellers are not authorized. Installation and calibration at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD site are also required.