 | University of Virginia March, 1907 |  |
LABORATORIES AND MUSEUMS.
The Sinclair Laboratory for work in Strength of Materials was
equipped through the generosity of Mrs. John Sinclair, of New York City,
as a memorial to her late husband. The outfit comprises Riehle and
Olsen machines, each of 100,000 pounds capacity, for tests of tensile,
compressive and transverse strengths and elasticities; a Ewing machine for
testing the elasticity of rods; an Olsen torsion machine of 50,000 inchpounds
capacity; hand machines for tensile and transverse tests; Fairbanks
and Olsen cement testing machines of 1,000 pounds capacity each;
an Olsen compression machine of 40,000 pounds capacity; special
apparatus for impact tests and tests of reinforced concrete; moulds for
extensometers, compressometers, and micrometers for delicate measurements.
The John Waverly Scott Laboratory for Electrical Engineering was
both equipped and endowed by Mrs. Frances Branch Scott, of Richmond,
Virginia, as a memorial to her late son, a former student and a loyal
alumnus of this University. It is provided with generators of both
direct and alternating currents, with transformers of various types and
capacities, with direct current motors and induction motors, with
electric meters of all the requisite ranges, and with the laboratory
standards needed for testing and calibrating them, and the brakes
and rheostats used in testing the electrical machines. The equipment
contains also a full outfit of apparatus of the best and most
modern construction for delicate electrical measurements, together with
a full supply of the necessary electrical standards. Two storage batteries
have been provided, one for pressure and one for current. A Duddell
oscillograph is used for the study of alternating current phenomena, and
is arranged to permit the projection of the wave forms on a screen. A
well equipped photometer cabinet is used for the testing and study of
electrical lamps.
For Steam Tests the equipment contains a full series of pressure
gauges, gauge testers, thermometers, steam calorimeters, fuel calorimeters,
apparatus for chimney gas analysis, indicators, friction brakes, apparatus
for testing the thermal qualities of steam, apparatus for measuring the
mechanical equivalent of heat, and the heat equivalent of electrical
energy, and all the appliances needed for the proper utilization of this
outfit. A machine for testing lubricants and apparatus for measuring the
density, viscosity, and flash point of oils has also been provided. The
laboratory engine has been equipped with rope brake and indicators,
steam calorimeters and steam separator, and is connected with a condenser,
so that tests of indicated and brake horsepower may be made both
with and without condensation. In addition, the boilers and engines of
the electric light and heating plant of the University are available for
testing purposes.
For Thermodynamic Tests an Otto engine and Remington ice machine
have been recently installed. The engine, which develops 15 I. H. P. and
12 B. H. P., is arranged for operation with gas, gasoline, or alcohol.
Provision has been made for accurate measurements of fuel consumption,
indicated and brake horsepower, speed and explosions, temperatures of
gases and cooling water, and for determining the composition of the
exhaust gases. A complete experimental study of the motor can thus be
carried out. For the ice machine the necessary brine tanks, indicators,
meters, thermometers and so on have been provided, so that accurate test
runs can be made. These machines, added to the outfit above described,
thermodynamics.
For Tests of Road Building Materials there have been installed a
ball mill, an abrasion machine, a briquette machine, a small crusher, a
diamond drill, and a grinding disc. The University owes the use of this
equipment to the generous coöperation of Dr. Logan Waller Page, director
of the United States office of public roads. It will be employed in connection
with the outfit of the Sinclair Laboratory for experimental researches
on the available road building rocks and gravels of Virginia.
The Rouss Physical Laboratory, the Chemical Laboratory and the
Brooks Museum, while designed primarily to foster the scientific studies
of the Academical Department of the University, are also available and
utilized for the instruction of the classes in Engineering.
The Physical Laboratory is not only provided with a large collection
of apparatus for demonstrative experiments in illustration of
the lectures on Physics, but possesses also the necessary instrumental
equipment for exact measures in General Physics, in Electricity and Magnetism,
and in Photometry.
The Chemical Laboratory is furnished with all the appliances and
supplies needed for illustrating the lecture course in General Chemistry,
and possesses also a remarkable museum of Industrial Chemistry, which
is utilized in the lectures on that subject. The analytical work-rooms
are well equipped and the course of instruction has been especially
adapted to the needs of students of Mining Engineering.
The Brooks Museum contains the collections of the University
in Geology and Mineralogy, collections of great value and of especial
interest to students of Civil and Mining Engineering. These collections
are used to illustrate the lectures and are thrown open to students
for individual study.
| University of Virginia March, 1907 | |