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basmoq:
as to the last point, the first thing I think of is a weighted compression between two metal plates, with the weights being attached to the top plate. You know the mass of the weights, use F=mg to get the force. Measure the compression distance, and you get F=-k*x to give a spring constant. It depends on how exact you need to be, and what your budget is. I'm sure someone like ASTM has a standard test for this type of thing, but their standard equipment tends to be fairly expensive. If y'all are looking to do this on the cheap, rig something yourself. If you really want to do it correctly, you'll probably need to spring for standard compression measurement equipment. People do this sort of thing all the time in mechanical / civil engineering. I would think a carefully placed call or email to the right professor or testing laboratory would tell you the standard method in the field.
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