Overview
Lehigh University Composites Lab has an excellent suit of equipment for design, analysis, optimization, manufacturing and testing of composite structures. There are a large number of workstations with computer aided design (CAD), finite element (FE), and structural optimization software. However, the heart of the lab is the manufacturing and experimentation equipment:
Composite Manufacturing
- Very large 5-axis CNC router (located on Mountaintop Campus)
- CNC abrasive waterjet cutter
- Large precision leveled vacuum infusion table
- Three smaller infusion tables
- 12 vacuum pumps
- Prepreg curing oven,
- Hand lamination tables
As well as all necessary tools. There is also a complete "boat lab" for manufacturing of manned experimental boats.
Experimental Testing
- Instron test frame
- Large drop weight impactor for impacting ship hull bottom panels
- Vibration identification system for measuring composite stiffnesses
- Environmental chamber
- Ultrasonic NDT equipment
- Signal conditioners for strain gages etc
- Large number of specialty fixtures for various structural tests
The lab is also equipped with most of the standard ASTM test fixtures for composites testing.
Larger Testing
- Manned fully aerobatic single seat aircraft for flight research
- Offshore two-seat catamaran raceboat for naval research
- Large number of remote control boats
Larger tests, such as the static sagging and hogging tests of a 6 meter steel/composite hybrid ship hull (designed and built inhouse), or the fatigue test of a 16 ton hybrid beam, are often coordinated with Lehigh's ATLSS center.
At present, a two-seat 9 meter high speed steel/composite hybrid boat is being built for slamming research
Rooms: Packard 165, 167 & 169
Faculty Contact: Joachim Grenestedt (jog5@lehigh.edu)
Staff Contact: Bill Maroun (wjm2@lehigh.edu)
