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Materials tester sent to the Tower

A Tinius Olsen product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 2, 2006

Royal Armouries uses materials testing machine, historical events and technology associated with the Tower of London to introduce pupils to the joys of science as well as history.

With the help of a Tinius Olsen materials testing machine, dramatic historical events and technology associated with the Tower of London are being used by Royal Armouries education staff to introduce visiting pupils to the joys of science as well as history.

A programme of science-based learning has been developed at the Tower and part of this includes the Tinius Olsen H25KS machine, which is used to show pupils the comparative tensile strengths of different types of body protection, from mediaeval armour up to modern composites such as Kevlar used in bullet proof jackets.

Science Education Officer Mandy Martin-Smith said: "We let children try on various items from the Royal Armouries collection at the Tower, including 16th century armour and compare it with modern body protection".

Metal samples are tested in place of the antique armour but obtaining samples of the modern materials can sometimes be equally challenging.

The QMat Pro software attached to the test machine provides a graphic display on the monitor of how samples react under tension.

The graphs can be overlaid for comparison, printed out or stored for future reference.

"One of the keys to science education is to develop children's interest in the subject at an early age," said Martin-Smith.

"The excitement of visiting exhibits at the Tower presents us with an ideal springboard to do this".

Entry to the Tower of London is £2.50 per pupil, plus £1 each for a teaching session.

Bookings need to be arranged at least one month in advance.

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.

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