The in 2012 completed laboratory hall not only accommodates our laboratory for composites, but also our material-testing technology. Primarily tailored to the testing of fiber-reinforced plastics, our machines can also be used for other composites and lightweight construction methods.

The zwickiLine is ideally suited for precise tensile, compression, and flexural tests in the low-force range. Thanks to its integrated DIC technology, detailed strain analyses can be performed contact-free, even on sensitive or small specimens.

Applications & Equipment

• Tensile, compression, and flexural testing

• Contact-free strain measurement with integrated DIC

Technical Data

• Test force up to 5 kN

• Test speed: 0.0005–600 mm/min

• Test area height up to 1040 mm

• Xforce HP load cell, accuracy class 1 / 0.5

• Controlled via testControl II and testXpert III

• videoXtens 2-150 HP: non-contact strain measurement

This high-precision universal testing machine enables tensile, compression, flexural, and torsion tests on a wide variety of specimens. The system features a modular design and, in combination with a DIC system, allows for detailed strain and displacement analyses.

Applications & Equipment

• Tensile, compression, flexural, and torsion testing

• Integrated digital image correlation (DIC) for strain and displacement field analysis

Technical Data

• Test force up to 50 kN

• Torque up to 200 Nm

• Test speed: 0.0005–600 mm/min

• Test area height up to 1755 mm

• Xforce HP load cell, accuracy class 1 / 0.5

• Controlled via testControl II and testXpert III

• videoXtens 2-150 HP: non-contact strain measurement

Manufacturer DantecDynamics / Limess

System designation: Q 400

• ISTRA 4D software package for analyzing the measurements
• Powerful mobile 3D-DIC system
• 2D and 3D recordings possible
• Additional analog and digital inputs and outputs for external signals
• Evaluation live and in post-process

Application:

• Static and dynamic material and component investigations.

Technical data

• max. static and dynamic nominal test load: +/-100 kN
• max. frequencies: 0.1 to 50 Hz
• column distance: 533 mm
• installation height: 1270 mm
• piston stroke: +/-75 mm

Application:

• Static and dynamic material and component investigations.

Technical data:

• max. nominal test load: +/-15 kN
• setting height: 500 mm
• Hydraulic chuck: flat specimens d = 1 to 4 mm, round specimens ø = 12 mm

Purchased especially for teaching and for the three-dimensional study of fracture structures and z-pins, Keyence's VHX 7000 series digital microscope enables powerful imaging. For this purpose, magnifications between 20 and 2500 can be achieved through several objectives.

For the inspection of the microstructure of fiber-reinforced plastics, we have a powerful reflected light microscope, the Hund H600. For the preparation of microsection samples, we also use a low-speed cutter and a polishing and grinding machine.

The acquisition of the microscope was supported with funds from the European Regional Development Fund.

Application:

• Optical evaluation of curing processes, assessment of fiber waviness
• Determination of fiber volume contents