Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF): Pioneering Work for Sustainable Materials in the Automotive Industry
Case Study
- Customer: Open Hybrid LabFactory e.V.
- Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
- Industry: Academia
- Topic: At the Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) research campus, representatives from the fields of science and industry are researching and testing metals, plastics and adhesive bonds for the future circular economy in the automotive industry.
March 2024
At the Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) campus in Wolfsburg, representatives from the fields of science and industry are using ZwickRoell expertise to research and test metals, plastics and adhesive bonds for the future circular economy in the automotive industry. Quality and measuring accuracy make up the main focus.
Open Hybrid LabFactory e.V.
The Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) research campus in Wolfsburg is a research facility established by the Research Campus Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In a public-private partnership, scientists and business representatives from renowned companies and institutes work together to develop pioneering solutions for the challenges in the automotive industry.
An important part of the research performed is the development and testing of materials and compounds for the further progression of secondary metals, plastics and other innovative materials. Research projects at the OHLF focus on promoting the circular economy of materials and components. Precision and measurement accuracy down to the smallest detail are crucial for the success of all projects.
The task
Comprehensive materials testing:scalable research on campus.
For reliable and scalable research results, scientists must be able to test hybrid and innovative materials down to the smallest detail on the largest possible test surface. Covering a wide range of possible material tests in one place is essential to ensure that all aspects can be thoroughly and comprehensively investigated.
The ZwickRoell solution
Systems must be both diverse and specific.
In addition to determining material characteristics using quasi-static test methods, fatigue tests can also be carried out using vibration loads to simulate stress processes in components or new types of materials. Mechanical alternating loads are used to investigate how similar specimens behave under cyclic or periodically changing loads, speeds, temperatures and other environmental conditions.
These tests are necessary to determine the load limit of a material, i.e. the point up to which a material subjected to alternating stress does not fail. Materials are subjected to various types of loads in fatigue tests, such as tensile, compression, flexure, torsion or shear force. Most fatigue tests on materials examine the number of load cycles (n) at different stresses (s) until failure, whereby the results are mapped on an S-N curve.
Applied solutions from ZwickRoell:
- Several AllroundLine testing machines (Fmzx 50 kN-250 kN) with different extensometers, testing tools and a temperature chamber with a temperature range of -70 °C to +250 °C.
- Servohydraulic portal-type test stand: Clamping field (4000 x 3000 mm) with two portals and three hydrostatically mounted servohydraulic testing actuators (2x100 kN, 1x50 kN) with freely adjustable loads and load frequencies.
- Investigation of strain behavior in the micrometer range by combination with optical deformation measurement.
- Tensile and puncture tests (40 kN) with crash-relevant speeds (up to 20 m/s).
The result
Partnership for sustainable innovation: ZwickRoell and OHLF advance materials research in the automotive industry.
The partnership between ZwickRoell and the Open Hybrid LabFactory (OHLF) opens up a wide range of research opportunities in the field of metals, plastics and adhesive bonding for the future circular economy in the automotive industry. The scientists and the head of the technical center value the expertise and the diverse opportunities that this collaboration offers. Particularly noteworthy is ZwickRoell’s excellent maintenance and repair service, which supports and promotes a smooth research process.
This close collaboration plays a decisive role in the development of innovative materials and contributes significantly to the creation of a sustainable future in the automotive industry. The use of state-of-the-art technologies and testing methods opens up new avenues for further development of materials with a reduced ecological footprint.
“ZwickRoell testing systems impress with their precision technology, reliable performance and versatility for demanding applications.”
Florian Holze, Head of the Technical Center at the Research Campus OHLF in Wolfsburg
ZwickRoell testing machines at OHLF
