Used to evaluate the feasibility of new designs, optimise the manufacturing process for composite material components, characterise process control variables and the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of materials (resins, adhesives, laminates, sandwich panels, …).
Tests are carried out according to norm and out of norm. In case of working with tailored tests out of norm, there exists the capacity of designing the whole tests including; the design / manufacturing of both the subcomponents and the tooling, the instrumentation of the test and the mechanical understanding of the results obtained by correlation with FE (Finite Element) models.
It has two separate working areas: for the process workshop, with a mechanical testing room, and for the characterisation laboratory, as well as a warehouse. It has equipment such as DSC, DMA, viscometer, gel timer, stereoscopic microscope with image processing, electromechanical mechanics static test machine of 600 kN capacity, servohydraulic mechanics fatigue test machine of 250 kN capacity, hot plate press, flat mould for manufacturing laminates and components by infusion and prepreg processing techniques, data acquisition equipment with thermocouples, …, inspection equipment, measuring equipment, milling machine for test specimens preparation, grinder-polisher, balances, ovens, furnace, baths, abrasion tester, etc.
Physical/Chemical Characterisation Laboratory
DSC, viscometers, DMA, stereoscopic microscope, ovens, furnaces, balances, gel timer, thermostatic bath, stirring hot plate, etc.
Manufacturing Test Workshop
Hot plate press, flat mould, central vacuum station, data acquisition equipment with thermocouples, …, inspection equipment, measuring equipment, milling machine for test specimens preparation, grinder-polisher, abrasion tester, etc.
Mechanical Testing Room
Servohydraulic mechanics fatigue test machine of 250 kN capacity and electromechanical mechanics static test machine of 600 kN capacity with different test fixtures: tensile, compressive (different methods), flexural, shear (different methods), fracture mechanics properties (Mode I, Mode II and Mixed Mode I-Mode II), shear (different methods), etc.
