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Organisation
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Organisation Chart
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Materials Engineering
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Mechanics of Polymers
The Mechanics of Polymers division engages in the characterisation of the mechanical properties and degradation of polymers and fibre-reinforced composites as used in heavy-duty, safety-critical engineering applications such as aviation, automotive engineering and wind energy. Our duties also include the analysis of the chemical and physical properties of polymers.
The fields range from static strength to fatigue strength, from the measurement of mechanical fracture and viscoelasticity parameters to the definition of molecular damage mechanisms.
It covers scales ranging from the chemical structure to microscopic scale to operational stress tests on construction components. Non-destructive methods, numerical simulation as well as thermal and spectroscopic analytical methods for polymers are also used alongside conventional testing methods.
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Fields of expertise
- Static and dynamic mechanical properties of polymers and fibre-reinforced composites
- Fatigue strength of fibre-reinforced composites
- Microscopic and molecular damage processes
- Damage accumulation using X-ray refraction
- Fracture mechanics, dynamic fracture toughness
- Thermal and spectroscopic analysis of polymers
- Fibre/polymer matrix adhesion
- Local material properties using micro and nanoindentation
- Degradation of polymer materials under the influence of media
- Multi-axial failure of fibre-reinforced composites
- FEM simulation
- Fracture surface microscopy
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Main activities
- Mechanical properties of polymers and fibre-reinforced composites under static/dynamic loads as well as under long-term and temperature change stresses
- Component testing for the wind energy, aviation and automotive industries
- Degradation of polymer materials under the influence of media
- Material characterisation and microscale investigation of failure mechanisms
- Damage analysis, damage assessment
- Research projects on the technical safety of fibre-reinforced composites
- Development of specific testing methods
- Standardisation, establishment of rules, consulting
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Range of services/technical equipment
- Servohydraulic and electromechanical test machines up to 500 kN
- Servohydraulic tension/torsion test machine, 250 kN / 2,000 Nm with climate-controlled chamber)
- Microtension/pressure test facilities 10 mN / 5 N
- Laboratory X-ray facilities
- Scanning probe microscope
- Adhesion measurement
- Pendulum impact tester with instrumentation
- Testing facility for creep under tension under contact with media
- Thermogravimetric analysis, combined with decomposition gas analysis
- Infrared spectroscopy
- Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- CAD and FEM
- Laser scanning microscope
- Flow test device for MFR and MVR
- Hydraulic slab press
- Cryomicrotome, sanding and polishing equipment
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Publications of the division
