Development of GUI Control System for a Biaxial Testing Machine

<p dir="ltr">Material science influences large aspects of the modern world. It is vital in designing reliable and safe structures and machines. As material science advances and novel/complex materials become more commonplace, the need to characterize the materials is needed. However, common tests such as uniaxial do not simulate real-world loading scenarios. This project’s goal is to develop a simple user interface and control system for an already developed and built biaxial testing apparatus. The apparatus is controlled using an Arduino Uno microcontroller, stepper motors, and load cells. The control system software makes use of MATLAB’s Appdesigner for the UI. Additionally, stepper motor control was done using the Arduino IDE with the use of open-source code available on GitHub and the Arduino IDE. This report outlines the development of the software and outlines the software’s core functions. The software can apply tensile and compression loading along the two axes at either the same or different strain rates.</p>