Vernier Structures & Materials Tester

The Vernier Structures & Materials Tester (VSMT) is the perfect device for all project-based STEM and engineering classrooms. Use the Tester, along with the engineering design method, to design, build, and test structures, conduct bridge competitions, and investigate and analyze beam designs and material properties.

Exact Force and Displacement for Bends and Breaks

The Tester is equipped with a load cell (measuring up to 1000 N) and a displacement sensor (0.1 mm resolution). Using both sensors allows you to record maximum breaking loads, as well as load/displacement characteristics to allow students to evaluate stress and strain.

Use Logger Pro video analysis in conjunction with your sensor measurements to see how and when things bend and break.

Accurate Positioning for Center and Off-Center Loading

The top support beams of the Tester are designed to easily slide and lock into position. Ruled markings located on the Tester allow you to accurately position the support beams for center or off-center loading.

Easy Loading For Different Sizes and Shapes

The VSMT ships with a well-outfitted VSMT Tackle Kit that includes a 50 x 50 x 6 mm and a 50 x 80 x 6 mm aluminum load plate, chain, rods, U-bolts, and other accessories to make it quick and easy to load bridges, materials, beams, and structures of varying sizes and shapes.

Truss Tester Accessory (Sold Separately)

Bridge building contests are an excellent platform for teaching engineering principles. A single bridge, however, can take a lot of time and material to complete. The Truss Tester Accessory allows students to focus on the design of a single truss, so the opportunity to learn from their efforts and engage in the engineering design process is emphasized, without spending an extraordinary amount of time building several bridges.

Learn more about the Truss Tester Accessory »

• Vernier Structures & Materials Tester - Testing Bridges - Tech Tips

  David Vernier introduces the Vernier Structures & Materials Tester. Use the Tester, along with the engineering design method, to design, build, and test structures, conduct bridge competitions, and investigate and analyze beam designs and material properties.

  5:25

• Vernier Structures & Materials Tester - Testing Beams - Tech Tips

  Tom Smith evaluates the strength of engineered beams by measuring the applied load with the Vernier Structures & Materials Tester. Use the Tester, along with the engineering design method, to design, build, and test structures, conduct bridge competitions, and investigate and analyze beam designs and material properties.

  12:43

• Vernier Structures & Materials Tester (VSMT) Assembly

  Watch this brief video to learn how to assemble the VSMT for use in testing materials strength and model bridges.

  3:27

Beam Inquiry Activities

Students can explore properties of materials and beam construction. These experiments are designed around the deflection of a beam supported on both ends and loaded by a downward force at its center.

Preview and/or edit the experiments for your curriculum by downloading the experiments below. The Student download includes objectives, materials, procedures, and analysis. The Instructor download includes notes, sample results and graphs, and answers.

Lab Ideas and Innovative Uses

Logger Pro software contains experiment files that facilitate experiments and investigations for most of our sensors and probes. Here is a brief summary of the files created for the VSMT. You can find these files by clicking on File > Open > Probes & Sensors > Structures & Materials Tester in Logger Pro.

Structure Comparison

The VSMT is an ideal tool to use for class bridge and structure engineering and design competitions. Students can test their bridges or other structures to determine the maximum force or efficiency (force/weight of bridge).

Structure Prototype

This activity is designed to allow the student to test a single unit and evaluate its performance and failure mechanism. Combine this activity with Logger Pro‘s Video Capture to analyze the point of failure, develop explanations, and re-design the structure to improve performance. This activity is at the heart of the engineering design process.

Beam Inquiry

We have developed 3 experiment files for the evaluation and study of beams:

• Rectangular Beam Inquiry
• Moment of Inertia Inquiry
• Elastic Modulus Rectangular Beam

Students can explore properties of materials and beam construction. These experiment files are designed around the deflection of a beam supported on both ends and loaded by a downward force at its center.

The Vernier Structures & Materials Tester may require a compatible interface and software. Choose a platform below to see compatible interface and software options.

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  LabQuest 2

  Full Support

  The Vernier Structures & Materials Tester is fully supported with LabQuest 2 (version 2.7.2), a standalone data logger with built-in graphing and analysis software.

  Learn more about LabQuest 2 »

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  Computers

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis for ComputersVersion 4.0	Logger ProVersion 3.14	Logger LiteVersion 1.9.2
  LabQuest Mini	Partial support 1	Full support	Full support 2
  LabQuest 2	Full support 1 3	Full support	Full support 2
  LabQuest Stream	Partial support 1 4	Full support	Full support 2 5
  Go!Link	Partial support 1	Partial support 1	Partial support 1
  Original LabQuest(discontinued)	Partial support 1	Full support	Full support 2
  LabPro(discontinued)	Incompatible	Full support 6	Full support 2

  Compatibility Notes

  1. This interface/software combination can only collect force data; displacement measurements are not supported.
  2. This interface/software combination auto IDs the VSMT Force sensor; displacement measurements require a Logger Lite file found at www.vernier.com/til/3621/
  3. Full support of this sensor is only available when LabQuest 2 is connected to a computer or Chromebook via Wireless Data Sharing. Future software updates will support the use of this sensor with LabQuest connected via USB to computers or Chromebooks.
  4. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Future software updates will support connection via Bluetooth^® technology
  5. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Wireless connection is not supported.
  6. Sensor does not auto-ID; manual setup is required.

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  Chromebook

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis for ChromeVersion 4
  LabQuest Mini	Partial support 1
  LabQuest 2	Full support 1 2
  LabQuest Stream	Partial support 1 3
  Go!Link	Partial support 1
  Original LabQuest(discontinued)	Partial support 1

  Compatibility Notes

  1. This interface/software combination can only collect force data; displacement measurements are not supported.
  2. Full support of this sensor is only available when LabQuest 2 is connected to a computer or Chromebook via Wireless Data Sharing. Future software updates will support the use of this sensor with LabQuest connected via USB to computers or Chromebooks.
  3. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Future software updates will support connection via Bluetooth^® technology

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  Mobile Devices

  	Software
  Interface	Graphical Analysis for iOSVersion 4	Graphical Analysis for AndroidVersion 3.1.1	Google Science JournalVersion 1.2.220
  LabQuest Stream	Partial support 1	Partial support 1	Incompatible
  LabQuest 2	Full support 2	Full support 2	Incompatible
  Go Wireless® Link	Partial support 1	Partial support 1	Partial support 1

  Compatibility Notes

  1. This interface/software combination can only collect force data; displacement measurements are not supported.
  2. Mobile devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 via Wireless Data Sharing.

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  Additional Platforms

  You can also use the Vernier Structures & Materials Tester with these platforms:

  • Original LabQuest
  • Mobile Devices
  • Arduino
  • LabVIEW
  • TI Handhelds