Drop Tower
The drop tower is used to investigate the energy absorption behaviour of materials, construction methods, components and structures. The basic function of the drop tower is to transport a test specimen or a defined weight attached to a ram to a height level, to release it there in a controlled manner and to drop it along a linear guide onto a test specimen or impact surface. The resulting short-term impact makes it possible to assess how energy is absorbed by materials, designs, components and structures in the event of a crash and which (low and high frequency) crash signals are generated. The system is suitable for impact tests on plastics, composites and various other materials.
![©THI Fallturm Versuchszenario](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/6/csm_Fallturm_1_50e5e68383.webp)
Objectives and Ideas
The basic function of the drop tower is to transport a test specimen or a defined weight attached to a ram to a height level, to release it there in a controlled manner and to drop it along a linear guide onto a test specimen or impact surface. The resulting short-term impact makes it possible to assess how energy is absorbed by materials, designs, components and structures in the event of a crash and which (low and high frequency) crash signals are generated.
Equipment
- Drop height: max. 6.5 m
- Drop weight: max. 500 kg
- Max. impact energy: approx. 32 kJ
- Free fall speed: approx. 10 m/s
- baffle surface: 2500 mm x 2500 mm
- Test piece weight: max. 1000 kg
- sprung foundation: 20 t
- Optical deformation measurement with ARAMIS
- High-Speed Impact Cannon
- Device for pre-acceleration
- Temperature control chamber
Examples of use
Crash tests on B-pillars
Energy absorption capacity and deformation characteristics of crash boxes
Validation of simulation results
Failure description of joined components
Laboratory management and team
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Brandmeier
Phone: +49 841 9348-3840
Room: H023
E-Mail: Thomas.Brandmeier@thi.de