Characterization of Tensile and Compressive Behavior of Microscale Sheet Metals Using a Transparent Micro-Wedge Device

Abstract

The cyclic and compressive mechanical behavior of ultra-thin sheet metals was experimentally investigated. A novel transparent wedge device was designed and fabricated to prevent the buckling of thin sheets under compressive loads, while also allowing full field strain measurements of the specimen using digital imaging methods. Thin brass and stainless steel sheet metal specimens were tested using the micro-wedge device. Experimental results show that the device can be used to delay the onset of early buckling modes of a thin sheet under compression, which is critical in examining the compressive and cyclic mechanical behavior of sheet metals.