Assessing complex structures 

Modern product development is driven by the desire to lower component weight and boost strength while streamlining forming and manufacturing expenditures. This is the reason why holistic product development that takes in the entire production process is becoming increasingly important since this is the only way to meet the demands caused by modern products. 

The institutes of the Fraunhofer Material and Components Group provide their customers with valuable development capabilities for this work both in the laboratory and by computer simulation. 

They not only possess the proven testing equipment for simulating and analyzing the manufacturing process and operating properties of components and systems, but also adequate software products for control technology, forming simulation, casting simulation, multiplebody simulation, FEM tension stress analysis, simulating material properties and estimating service life. 

(Holistic numerical analysis of a system 
Holistic experimental analysis of a system 
© Fraunhofer LBF)

The Fraunhofer Material and Components Group even has some unique testing equipment and numerical analysis techniques for highly dynamic loads such as those occurring in car component crash strain or in space travel when space junk or micrometeorites impact space vehicles.