Services and equipment

Research and Testing Laboratory for Solid Construction (FPM) of the TU Darmstadt – your competent partner for individual solutions for experimental tests in the construction industry

The Research and Testing Laboratory for Solid Construction (FPM) of the TU Darmstadt is an independent competence center in the field of solid construction. With our highly qualified team and state-of-the-art technology, we support the research and development of the Institute of Concrete and Masonry Structures and at the same time offer high-quality services for external customers. Our expertise covers a wide range of testing and research activities that are of great benefit to both manufacturers of construction products and engineering companies.

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You can find a complete overview of our services and our contact information in our research and testing laboratory flyer (opens in new tab)

An overview of our services:

  • Component approvals and construction product monitoring: We carry out experimental tests to obtain component approvals and ensure ongoing monitoring of construction products (cooperation with external experts required).
  • Material parameters for existing building projects: We determine precise material parameters for existing structures and thus support engineering firms in the evaluation of existing buildings.
  • Tests for standardization in structural concrete and masonry construction: Our tests serve as a basis for the standardization of materials and structures in the field of concrete and masonry construction.
  • Research projects: We support the Institute of Solid Structures in the implementation of demanding tests as part of its diverse research projects.
  • Solid constructions you can touch! Students of the Institute of Solid Structures gain their first insights into the production, testing and evaluation of solid load-bearing structures at the FPM.

Modern testing technology and customized solutions

Thanks to our modular test benches, high-performance testing machines and the expertise of our dedicated employees, we are able to meet even the most unusual and complex requirements. We offer customized solutions that are precisely tailored to your needs and are at your side as a competent partner for all questions relating to the testing of construction products.

Get in touch with us today!

Benefit from our many years of experience and let our expertise convince you. Together, we will find the optimum solution for your projects – efficiently, precisely and reliably.

Services:

Interdisciplinary cooperation, the internal exchange of expertise and practical experience enable the successful and cost-effective processing of research and development projects.

In the following eight specialist departments, we guarantee you a broad, technically and scientifically sound range of services:

  • Building construction and component testing
  • Determination of masonry strength (stone compressive strength and mortar compressive strength) on existing buildings
  • Dowel/fastening technology
  • Building material development and material testing
  • Dynamic component testing
  • Non-destructive testing
  • Building physics and construction chemistry
  • Load tests in existing buildings

Together with an external assessor, the FPM can also carry out work for approvals in individual cases and in the approval system in the following areas:

  • Fastening technology
  • Building material recycling
  • Reinforcing steel connections
  • Dynamic investigations
  • Special constructions for reinforced and prestressed concrete components
  • Masonry construction
  • Cantilever slab connections
  • Maintenance
  • Cellular, fiber and lightweight concrete
  • Self-compacting concrete
  • High-strength concrete
  • Environmentally friendly concrete

On-site inspections:

In addition to the tests within the FPM facilities, extensive external tests are also carried out on site. References include in situ load tests on slabs, acceleration measurements on computer systems as a result of conversion work, ultrasound examinations and external monitoring on construction sites.

Laboratory equipment

The FPM has very well-equipped laboratories at its disposal in which it is possible to determine the load-bearing capacity of building components, mechanical building material parameters, chemical analyses and building physics parameters.

Design laboratory:

  • Testing machines for material and component tests up to 5000 kN, for compressive and tensile loading
  • Testing machines for high-frequency (up to 10 Hz) cyclic tests in the tensile and compression threshold range and for tensile-compression alternating loading
  • Testing machines for vertical components up to 6 m high
  • Modular test field with clamping base and frames for all types of component testing
  • State-of-the-art control systems (Cube) for static and dynamic material and component testing
  • Equipment for testing fastening technology (e.g. dowels, anchor rails)
  • Various measuring equipment: settlement strain gauges, strain gages, displacement transducers, pressure sensors, load cells, photopostic measuring system (DIC – digital image correlation)
  • E-modulus measuring devices (DIN 1048, DIN EN 12390-13) incl. dynamic E-modulus with ultrasound
  • Creep stands for carrying out shrinkage tests according to DIN EN 12390-17
  • Shrinkage measuring devices, Schleibinger shrinkage cone for carrying out shrinkage tests according to DIN EN 12390-16
  • Apparatus for wear resistance according to Böhme (DIN EN 13813)
  • Equipment for on-site load tests (DAfStb guideline for load tests on concrete structures)
  • Equipment for testing fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement under tensile and compressive loading according to DAfStb Heft 660
  • Equipment for testing the creep and fatigue behavior of FRP reinforcement according to DAfStb Heft 660
  • Equipment for testing concrete and masonry samples from existing buildings (drill cores) in according to WTA Merkblatt 7-4

Mortar and concrete laboratory:

  • Standard equipment, incl. laboratory mixer for mortar and concrete up to 80 l and various devices for fresh mortar and fresh concrete tests
  • Concrete rheometer BT2 and ICAR
  • Mortar rheometer Haake
  • Vicat devices
  • Standard testing devices for SCC (spreading plate, settling funnel, funnel, blocking ring, sedimentation pot, discharge cone)
  • Foam generator – at the Institute of Construction and Building Materials

Climate chamber
with a volume of approx. 50 m3 (regulation of temperature and humidity)

Durability and chemistry laboratory:

  • State-of-the-art device for determining the thermal conductivity resistance
  • Chemistry laboratory with standard equipment
  • Carbobox (setting of increased CO2 concentration, testing according to fib Bulletin 34)
  • Climatic cabinets (temperature, humidity and CO2 concentration)
  • Ion chromatograph for determining anion and cation concentrations (e.g. determination of chloid and sulphate content)
  • Stands for diffusion tests, water vapor diffusion (DIN EN 12086) and CO2 diffusion
  • Water penetration test stands – WU (DIN 12390-8)
  • Frost cabinet (slab test, cube method according to DIN EN 12390-9)
  • Mercury porosimeter
  • Blaine value tester (DIN EN 196-6)
  • Migration apparatus for chloride migration rapid test (BAW data sheet and NT Build 492)
  • Various light microscopes
  • Laser granulometer – at the Institute of Construction and Building Materials
  • Thermal conductivity measuring device – at the Institute for Building Materials