Rensselaer Polytechnic transverse strength test (stainless/nickel alloy)

The Varestraint test as developed at RPI. Used to demonstrate liquation/solidification cracking by bending the plate during welding and exposing the partially-liquid grain boundaries.

I talked about this the other day when we were talking about stainless steels — the Rensselaer Polytechnic Varestraint test, where you weld on a stainless steel or a nickel-based alloy, some high alloy typically. You make the weld, and as you're welding you bend the plate along the weld. It's called a transverse-strain Varestraint test. You can see, when you apply the pressure, you just open up the cracks, because the cracks were partially liquid at the time. You open it up and make more space.