The strongest cable testing machine in the world: design and experiments

It is demonstrated how, by combining unconventional design and revolutionary technology, the strongest cable testing machine in the world could be built at a surprisingly low cost. Technical highlights are the conception of 'multiple cylinder' actuators, each equipped with three active cylinder chambers in linear array, and the application of 'floating' sealing rings, able to slide within very thin–walled ('breathing') cylinders without any metallic contact. In spite of its unorthodox conception the machine from the very beginning was remarkably easy to operate. ELS ('Experiments with Long Specimens') was entirely conceived and built by specialists of the Swiss Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) at Dubendorf/Zurich.