We have our own facilities at McGill University, which include nonstandard experimental setup for unique experiments at small length scales and in-situ (we image the material at high and low magnifications in real time as the material is deformed or fractured).

We use this small mechanical loading stage for a wide variety of tests, from cyclic loading on small mice bones to fracture tests on seashells. The stage is small enough to fit under our optical microscope or our scanning probe microscope. This allows for in-situ testing, where we can image the material as it is deformed. The stage is controlled with a computer-controlled (with feedback on force or displacement) which enables a wide variety of testing programs. We use this machine with different types fixtures, some custom made. These include tensile, 3 and 4 point bending, compression, indentation. Our load cells include 100 lbs, 25 lbs,5 lbs and 20 grams

We use this microscope for a variety of purposes, mostly microstructure characterization for which we have differential interference contrast and white light / fluorescence capabilities and a high resolution CCD camera. Our mechanical loading stage also fits on the microscope stage so we can image samples as they are deformed. An important implication is that we can use the images to measure strain with a great accuracy, using digital image correlation.

The scanning probe microscope is an extremely versatile piece of equipment used for imaging surfaces with nanometers resolution but also to actually interrogate surface mechanically (elasticity, strength, friction...) , or even pull on single molecules (force spectroscopy). An interesting setup is to fit the mechanical stage underneath the microscope in order to monitor how the microstructure of materials evolves when mechanical stresses are applied. This setup allows great image resolution on sample in wet conditions, making it perfect for in-situ mechanical tests on hydrated biological materials.

Large specimens and structures are tested on a traditional universal tensile machine, while on the other end the mechanics of single molecules can be interrogated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Between these two extremes there is a wide gap in terms of force and imaging resolution, which we are filling with new :intermediate" experimental setup.