Analysis of interactions between test methodology and geometrical factors for a safe and risk adjusted dimensioning of the interface of polycarbonate window and separating safeguard

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Eckart Uhlmann
• Subject Area: Production Systems, Operations Management, Quality Management and Factory Planning
• Term: from 2011 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 171578664

Aim of the research project is to analyze the influences of geometrical parameters on the safety of a separating safeguard with an integrated polycarbonate window.The dimensioning of a machine tool housing nowadays relies on the penetration resistance. Studies on the penetration resistance of different materials and different projectiles have been accomplished in the past and the results can be viewed in the respective standards. The test case was always a test pattern fixed on a frame which should be as stiff as possible with an impact point in the middle of the test pattern. This procedure has proved of value for the determination of the penetration resistance and is state of the art. However, there are known cases in industry in which ejected objects could not be hold by the viewing panel because it loosened from its fixture, so that the ejected object and the viewing panel both left the machine. Actual standards do not provide safe solutions for this case and in research projects only random tests have been made on it. Construction engineers are depending on own experiences or costly case-by-case reviews.In the first period of the research project, the influence of the geometric parameters that lead to a loosening of the window has been analyzed. Thereby, significant parameters could be identified, their influence quantified and a mathematical model, which allows to evaluate the safety against loosening of the window on a certain construction, could be built. In the second period, the research shall be expanded on non-quadratic and larger windows.Finally, there shall be educed construction notes from the test results, which allow design engineers to evaluate and to increase the safety of separating safeguards with integrated window without case-by-case impact tests.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants