Introduction
Carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) are materials known for their high strength and rigidity combined with low weight, making them ideal for use in aeronautics, vehicle construction, and sports equipment. The mechanical properties of CFRP are highly directional, necessitating testing in various directions to fully assess their capabilities.

Testing Equipment
The universal testing machine, inspekt 250kN, is equipped with a temperature chamber and video extensometer to perform tensile, bending, and bulging tests on CFRP samples. This machine is capable of handling loads up to 250kN, allowing for a wide range of tests.

Testing Procedures
- Tensile Tests: Used to determine the strength and rigidity along the fibre direction.
- Bending Tests: Important for materials with high rigidity where tensile tests may not be suitable.
- Temperature Influence: Tests can be conducted in a temperature range from -70°C to +350°C to simulate real-world conditions in applications like aeronautics and vehicle construction.

Measurement Techniques
The video extensometer provides non-contact measurement of longitudinal extension, which is crucial for brittle materials like CFRP that may fracture during testing. This method ensures the measuring system remains undamaged.

Clamping and Flexibility
Hydraulic clamping devices ensure optimal sample clamping, and all test tools are designed to handle the nominal load of 250kN, offering flexibility in testing various sample types.