Lightweight Construction Laboratory

Welcome to the homepage of the Lightweight Construction Laboratory

At the Lightweight Construction Laboratory at the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer (Building T52), products are developed that are distinguished by their aesthetics, functionality, and efficiency. The facility’s equipment enables, on the one hand, the efficient production of complex, high-quality load-bearing structures made of aluminum and fiber-reinforced plastic composites (FRP) and, on the other hand, the mechanical testing of these structures to verify their load-bearing capacity. Highlights include the hot-air autoclave and the servo-hydraulic structural test rig. The hands-on engineering education provided here offers our students an unforgettable experience. Opportunities for participation arise primarily through elective courses and student projects.

Teaching

Aluminum Truss Beam

As part of the “Lightweight Construction” course (Master’s in Mechanical Engineering), students undertake a development project—from the initial load and installation space specifications all the way through to load testing of the first prototype. In this context, riveted lightweight truss girders made of aluminum profiles are constructed.

 

Model sailboat

As part of several elective courses and in connection with student projects, various fiber-reinforced composite technologies typical of the industry are applied in the Lightweight Construction Laboratory using a large, high-performance model sailboat as a test case.

 

Features

Hot-Air Autoclave System

Our autoclave enables us to manufacture complex fiber-reinforced composite shell structures of the highest quality. Specifications:

  • Manufacturer: Maschinenbau Scholz
  • Internal length: 3,000 mm
  • Inner diameter: 1,000 mm
  • Max. temperature: 200 °C
  • Max. pressure: 10 bar

 

Servo-hydraulic structural test stand

The servo-hydraulic structural test stand is designed as a modular system that can scale with upcoming projects. Thanks to the ability to integrate up to three servo-hydraulic axes and the versatility of the test frame, the test stand can be adapted to a wide range of new components and structures. Specifications:

  • Manufacturer: DYNA-MESS
  • Hydraulic power: 30 kW
  • 1st hydraulic axis: 120 mm stroke, 30 kN
  • Testing and control software for a wide variety of ramp-shaped and oscillating force/displacement profiles.

 

Team

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Olaf Helms

olaf.helms(at)hs-emden-leer.de

+49 173 68 39 690

 

M.Eng. Dirk-Jan Bülthuis

dirk-jan.buelthuis(at)hs-emden-leer.de