Light Metals & Mechanical Testing

The Light Metals & Mechanical Testing group at the institute for general materials properties focuses on the one hand on the research of aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys, especially for structural automotive and aerospace applications. In this context, activities are focused on determining the correlation between process parameters, the emerging microstructure and the resulting properties. In combination with research into dominant damage mechanisms, material/component properties can thus be specifically influenced and improved. Current research topics include wrought and cast aluminium alloys as well as titanium alloys. Other materials, such as copper alloys or electrical steel sheets, are also the subject of current work. In all cases, an in-depth understanding of the process-microstructure-property correlation, based on extensive material characterization, is essential.

Main aspects of the research include:

  • Exploiting the potential of materials through a deeper understanding of process-microstructure-property correlation.
  • Increasing the application limits and sustainability of materials through a deeper understanding of the process-microstructure-property correlation and the analysis of damage mechanisms.
  • Optimization of materials with regard to special applications or requirements
  • Extension of the basic understanding of deformation and damage mechanisms of metallic materials

In the field of mechanical testing, the focus is on both methodological issues and the determination of the mechanical properties and deformation behaviour of (mostly metallic) materials under a wide variety of load cases. In addition to deformation behaviour under quasi-static tensile and compressive loading, cyclic and/or time-dependent deformation behaviour is also investigated using fatigue and creep tests. For the characterization of the mechanical properties, a wide range of testing equipment is available at the institute. Specific load cases, such as fretting fatigue, are also considered.

In addition to publicly funded basic and applied research projects, partner projects are also carried out in cooperation with industry.

 

Team

PD Dr.-Ing. Heinz Werner Höppel

Studienberater des Lehrstuhls Allg. Werkstoffeigenschaften, Univis Beauftragter

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Dr.-Ing. Dorothea Matschkal

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Dominik Steinacker

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Laura Huber

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Fabian Hummel, M. Sc.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Nina Pfeffer, M. Sc.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Philip Goik, M. Sc.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Daniel Elitzer, M. Sc.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Patrick Ortner

Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Chair of General Materials Properties

Current research projects

REGULUS

iAl6V4 (Ti-64) is one of the most commonly used alloys in aerospace industry. Nowadays, structural parts are milled from solid blocks. This results in a degree of machining of up to 96%. Thus, aerospace industry is in need of an advanced technology, which improves the ecological footprint and the costs for structural parts. This becomes even more important as the market demand is increasing steadily.
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Microstructural Optimization of extruded Al-Mg-Si-Alloys for improved ductile deformation

Extrusion profiles made from Al-Mg-Si alloys are used in car manufacturing as rods, beams and members as components for the car frame and body. For such safety components, the applied alloys need a high strength and a high degree of ductility at ambient temperature in order to not fail in a brittle but ductile manner and protect the passenger in the interior.
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TISTRAQ (Titanium Solution Treating and Rapid Quenching)

The joint project TISTRAQ (Titanium Solution Treated & Rapid Quenching), which was launched in July 2020, is carried out in cooperation with the partners Heggemann AG and Dynamore. Funding is provided by the German government’s aviation research program LuFo VI. The main objective of the project TISTRAQ is the development of a forming process for the energy- and material-efficient production of formed sheet metal parts made of α+β titanium alloys with mechanical characteristic values increased by at least 15% in relation to the initial state by means of process-integrated heat treatment.
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Investigation of the local degradation of magnetic properties of nonoriented electrical steel by shear cutting, for use in automotive electric motors

Due to its soft magnetic properties, electrical steel is particularly well suited for guiding magnetic fields. For this reason, it forms the main material of electric traction machines in a stacked form as a rotor and stator. The manufacturing process from the sheet metal coil to the electric machine significantly influences the magnetic properties.
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Hybrid lightweight design for solid components by use of friction-welded aluminum-steel and aluminum-cast iron joints

The aim of the project HyLight is the development of new lightweight constructions of rotating components by rotational friction welding. The produced aluminium-steel- as well as aluminium-cast iron-connections show the relevant interactions between process parameters and therefore the effect on microstructure and mechanical properties.
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Publications