You would like to develop a new material to investigate if it would be appropriate for a fracture plate. Your goal is to analyze the behavior of the new material and not the plate itself $($although that would likely be a good step to take in the future$).$ You are planning to use a variety of mechanical tests to analyze your new material including a tensile test using a testing machine. As you are planning your test protocol, you are considering a couple of different shapes to use for the tensile test specimens you will use to collect the data $($these shapes are pictured to the right$).$ These specimens will be created using the new material and gripped on either end by the tensile testing machine.

i$.$ What are the experimental limitations of the two different test specimen shapes that are shown?

ii$.$ What test specimen shape would be preferred to bypass these limitations$?$ Please draw and explain your answer.

iii. What resources would you consult as you plan your testing protocol to determine the appropriate specimen dimensions for your tensile test specimens and loading rate for your test?