The Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory (LFMF) carries out research and studies related to the failure of mechanical components subjected to complex loads. Together with the Structures Laboratory of the Civil Engineering Department, the LFMF has 12 computerized servo-hydraulic machines from 100kN to 1MN and accessories to carry out practically any type of mechanical test, such as various grips, clip-gauge extensometers of various types and capacities, digital image analysis (DIC) system with cameras and microscopes, DC potential drop system with servo-controlled current source and nanovoltmeters for measuring crack sizes in fatigue tests, various extensometer readers and data acquisition systems, instrumented impact machines, etc. , as well as a small support workshop with a lathe, milling machine and hand tools, heat treatment ovens, micrometers and various metrological equipment, etc. The LFMF has developed and uses its own software for research and structural integrity assessment services, such as the programs ViDa 3D (which quantifies fatigue damage caused by real service loads), Quebra2D (which calculates stress intensity factors and crack paths in complex parts), as well as programs for controlling servo-hydraulic machines, data acquisition in high-speed tensile tests, data acquisition and processing of strain gauge signals, etc. The LFMF has also designed and built several special testing machines, such as an electromechanical machine for multi-axial tensile-torsion tests of up to 250kN and 500Nm, a 50kN electromechanical universal testing machine, a machine for tri-axial rock tests with 6 hydraulic jacks of 5MN, a machine for compression tests under high hydrostatic pressures with a capacity of 2.5MN and 120MPa, a high-speed rotary bending fatigue machine, various accessories such as clip-gages and load cells, etc. In addition, the LFMF shares with ITUC, the Technological Institute of PUC, various complementary equipment such as environmental cameras and medium and high temperature ovens, hardness machines, electromechanical universal testing machines; it has an agreement with the Corrosion Laboratory of the National Institute of Technology, where stress corrosion tests have been carried out; it shares with the former DCMM and current Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering several optical and transmission and scanning electron microscopes, and metallography equipment; and it shares with Tecgraf a huge computer infrastructure.
Location: Pilotis of the Cardeal Leme Building
Contact: Marco Antonio Meggiolaro – meggi@puc-rio.br
Support: Finep, ONR (Office of Naval Research) and CAPES