[echrisconnor]

The fact that you have a "destructive testing" lab at your work sounds so cool. I want to work with you!

I suspect there are a bunch of ways to test for pressure or quantity of deflection. This brace is only suppoted on one side of the shock. The Weltmeister and others go all the way around. Could you buy two of them, double up the shock tower mounts an make the bracket more secure.

As to the relative stifness of Aluminum vs. Steel, I agree that it must depend on the type of alloy and thickness. In my limited exeperience with both on mountain bikes, steel is generally more flexible than the Aluminum which tends to be more rigid.